Sometime ago my wife and I were in Australia visiting our son. One day he
suggested that we launch his boat and go out onto the river and do a bit of
fishing.
My wife, who doesn't like being on boats, stayed back at the house. My son, two
grandsons, age 10 and 6, and I eventually got the boat into the water after a
half hour drive to the river.
Fishing went well. I caught one and was very pleased with myself until my son
measured it with a ruler. He said it was too small. He said there is a law
regarding what size of fish you are allowed to keep. If you are caught with fish
that are too small when you get ashore you will be fined. I didn`t want to break
the law and go back home with illegal fish so I reluctantly let it go back into
the river.
This fishing experience led me to think of times in our lives, while we are
going about our daily duties, when thoughts come to us and we hook them just
like we do with a fish. Good and bad thoughts come into our boat. (mind). We
need to measure them by God`s standard, the rule of love. "God is the law giver
and our judge", Isaiah ch. 33 v 22. He measures each thought that we have in our
mind as each moment passes.
An example of an illegal thought would be anger, bitterness or resentment etc.
If we were to allow anything of that nature to live in our heart, Gods law of
love would demand that we put it back where it belongs. Into the river where it
came from.
Matthew ch. 22 v 37-39 is God`s measure or ruler for our behaviour. "Love God
with all our heart, soul and mind and neighbour as ourselves."
It was a bit disappointing for me to let go of the fish I had caught. It can be
a whole lot harder to let go of sin which is a title for a huge net filled with
illegal stuff. Galatians ch.5 v 19-21, lists a lot of it.
Some fish can leap high out of the water as they swim along at a fast speed.
I saw a video clip where fish were actually landing in the boat. One slapped a
man on the side of his face.
This illustrates how random thoughts can enter our minds and we need to be on
our guard to make sure no illegal ones get a chance to stay there.
Galatians ch. 5 v 22-23 indicate where to go fishing for the legal fish. The big
ones. Ones you can keep and give no fear of breaking the law when you meet the
lawgiver. There is no law to break when you come to shore with your boat full of
Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness Faithfulness, Meekness
and self-control.
Is that a legal thought you have at this moment? He is watching.
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