得人如得魚 Fishers of Men (with Eng translation)

論到得人漁夫，特別感動我的是耶穌以三問三答扭轉彼得的三次不認主的羞辱。俗語有云，「一次不忠，百次不用」，神的用人方式卻非同世界的做法。世上的做法是另尋替代的人，神卻是改變更新那德不配位的人，扶助他成材。耶穌起初對彼得的呼召並沒有因彼得的失信而告終，主向他顯現時再次肯定他。而這次的肯定比初期的呼召倍感動容，意義更多層次地豐富。見證着最愛的主受苦難，面對自己因懦弱而落空的誓言，其慚愧和痛心可想而知。後來基督的復生，似乎經歷感動、狂喜，卻又迎來迷茫，對於未知的方向無所適從。他只好重操舊業，回到打魚的工作。但基督的呼召重啟他的人生使命，透過打魚的神跡，重燃對使命的熱心。

不知你是否有跟我一樣曾因自己的軟弱，覺得愧對於主，無法回應神的召命呢？例如想向人傳福音卻因為害怕而退縮；想追求聖潔，卻總覺得做得「不夠好」；對於神的引領陷在順服與拒絕的兩難之間。像一粒麥子的歌詞所寫，「呼召如此崇高 ，種子何等渺小」，彷彿滿腔熱血的回應神呼召，卻擔心自己打退堂鼓，讓親愛的主失望。可是，神卻有滿足的愛和包容：祂不責怪我的懦弱；不跟我的退縮計較；不在乎我的力量有多少。祂只要我說願意，跟祂踏上倚靠神的旅程。對於漁穫滿載的彼得，憶起與耶穌初遇的呼召，基督在海邊問是否愛他，要他牧養祂的羊群，我想像祂正在對我們每一位將開手，跟我們說：「你來，跟從我吧！」

你知道加利利海中最常見的一些魚類是聖彼得魚、沙丁魚和約旦鯉魚嗎？（牠們也出現在這幅畫裡喔！）

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2027 座曆現在接受預訂了，$15一本，優惠價 $50/5本，運費另計。詳情請按以下連結：

2027 Desk calendar is now available for pre-order. Please check out the link below for details:

座曆 desk calendar（預訂）：https://www.rebeccakart.ca/product-page/2027-desk-calendar

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I was incredibly touched by how Jesus reversed Peter’s threefold denial with 3 questions and 3 answers. There is a common saying, “Once unfaithful, never trusted again.” While this world’s approach is to look for a better replacement, God transforms, helps and “upcycles” the person for His work. God did not invalidate Peter’s calling because of his breach of faith. Instead, Jesus reassured Peter through letting him relive his calling, a moment that is moving and impactful.

Witnessing the Lord’s suffering, contrasting against his empty promises due to his cowardice, one can only imagine Peter's feeling of shame and heartbreak. Following Jesus’ resurrection, Peter appeared to have experienced waves of awe and elation, only to be met with confusion and sense of helplessness. Seemingly not knowing where life will lead, he had returned to his own trade of fishing. Jesus’ conversation with him reignited his calling with a sense of renewed purpose, redirecting Peter’s path to the great commission.

Have you had similar experiences where, like Peter, you felt as if you have fallen short of His calling? I know I have. Perhaps we have wanted to share the gospel and yet retreated in fear of embarrassment. We have wanted to pursue holiness and yet feel like we have not measured up. Perhaps we have found ourselves stuck between obedience and resistance to God’s calling, just to name a few examples. Yet God is gracious – from what I see in this passage, He does not condemn us for our cowardice, nor does he reject us for failing to keep our vows for a time. He does not despise our little strength, and yet welcomes our willingness to say yes and commit to keep trying. As I put myself in Peter’s shoes, I imagine what it would be like to re-experience my calling, how I would answer Him by the seaside. I imagine Him inviting us once again with open arms, “Come. Follow me!”

Fun fact: do you know that some of the most common fish found in the sea of Galilee are St Peter's fish, sardines and Jordan carp? (they were in this painting too)