Don't be Afraid

In our society, the emphasis is very much on doing your own thing, living the dream, being true to yourself - all self-focused and self-reliant. It can be hard then to have to put your life into the hands of another, to ask for help with problems such as debt or to put your trust in someone else.

Luke 5: 1 - 11 (NIV)

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Simon is amazed when Jesus tells him to put down their nets - they have been working unsuccessfully all night and now someone who has come along and commandeered their boat is now telling them how to do their job as well! But Simon has heard what Jesus has been telling the crowds and takes a chance - putting his trust in Jesus. And the result is abundance and recognition of who Jesus is, to the extent of walking away from their livelihoods, leaving everything and following Him, putting their trust and their lives into His hands.

In our society, we need to recognise that we can't do it all ourselves, that the gifts and authority that we have are gifts from God and should be used in His service. That it is not a failing to struggle or to reach out and ask for help or right for those in power to class them as such. When we put our trust, put our lives into Jesus' hands we receive abundance in unexpected places and He uses the skills that we already have to make this happen. By surrendering control to Jesus we can revolutionise our lives and working together revolutionise the lives of others in the ways that Jesus showed us through His life and ministry.

100 Clients Debt Free!

It is fantastic news this week that since the Ely and District CAP debt centre opened in 2017 we have reached 100 clients debt free! This is 100 people in the CB6 and CB7 postcode areas who have had the burden of debt lifted from their lives and through the help of our debt coaches and visit team have heard the message of the love of God in their lives.

Please pray for all these 100 clients, that their debt freedom has been the lifting of a burden for them to entre a more financially secure future and be able to rebuild their lives, that the love of the Ely and District CAP team and the love of God will be with them.