Jesus pays back a loan

Jesus, help me loan out my things when people need them! Amen.

At the Sea of Galilee , Jesus sat in a fishing boat to teach for a while. Then He told Simon Peter, its owner, "Throw your nets out again." Simon said, "We've caught nothing all day!" But he threw the nets out anyway -- and pulled them in full of fish! Simon said, "I don't deserve this. I'm a sinner." But Jesus replied, "Don't be afraid. Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of people." All the fishermen left everything and followed Jesus.

Kids are always loaning things to each other. You trade sweatshirts with a friend for a week, let your cousin use your iPod while he's visiting, or let someone borrow games to use at a birthday party. Sometimes, a friend's thanks is the best payback for a loan!

Simon Peter got even more than that. He was a fisherman -- and one having bad luck, too -- when Jesus came along. Jesus was looking for the loan of a boat to sit in while He taught people about God, so the crowd could all hear and see Him without smushing Him.

When you loan something out, it's usually to a friend. That way, you know you can trust the person to take care of your stuff and to give it back.

Jesus, though, was a total stranger to Simon Peter when He borrowed Peter's boat. There must have been something about Jesus that showed Peter He could be trusted, since the boat was really all Peter had.

Loaning your things to friends might mean they agree when you'd like to borrow something. Jesus paid Simon Peter back in a surprising way: He not only made sure Peter caught all the fish he needed, but He asked Peter to become one of the first Apostles!