A few posts ago, I mentioned my catch phrase: Find a hook and hang this on it. Here's one of those hooks that caught my attention and made me pause awhile. In Matthew 17:27, Jesus and Peter had been discussing taxes. The Lord told Peter to go and cast a hook into the sea and the resulting catch would ultimately pay their Temple tax for the year. Now, this miracle is interesting for several reasons: it is only recorded by Matthew; Peter was the only one cognizant of the miracle; and it is the only miracle where Jesus utilized money. In addition, let’s not forget the divine power it took to get THAT coin in THAT fish’s mouth. But we should not lose sight of the fact that it all began with a simple fishing hook. Peter was, of course, a career-fisherman, but he had always used a net to do his work. Jesus asked him to find another tool with which to accomplish his task...and that is the key to the entire passage. Standing on the shore, or rowing out in the boat would only accomplish so much for Peter. It was in trusting the Lord and looking for a hook that enabled Peter to be successful in his endeavor. And what a story he could pass on to others. When it comes to finding real treasure, many approach the Scriptures with a wide net. Others stand on shore and wait to see what the preacher will bring in. When was the last time you looked for a hook in a single verse of scripture and trusted the Holy Spirit to land the big one?
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