The Big Picture - November 2025

Isaiah 55:8-9- “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

                In last month's blog we began by looking at Isaiah 55. We saw that our thinking and our actions do not compare with those of the Almighty God. We also saw in Ephesians 3:20 that He is able to do things exceeding and abundantly above all that we can even ask or think. Lastly, we saw that we think too small because we don’t see the Big Picture. And when we think too small, we limit God’s power in our life.

In this series of blogs we will see how we can begin to see things God’s way. But before that, this month, we are going to see how our thinking can limit God’s work in our life.

Let’s look at the story of Peter and the disciples in Luke 5:4-7. Jesus tells Peter to go out into the water and let down his nets for a big harvest of fish. Notice He told Peter to let down nets, plural. He knew there were many fish to be caught.

Peter’s response to Jesus was, I’ve been out all night and haven’t caught a thing. But the next thing he said was more important. He said, “nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.” Why was that phrase more important? Because he was saying, Jesus I believe in your word. Jesus had always been accurate in what He spoke. Because of that Peter was going to believe Him now too. And with that belief and action on the word of Jesus, Peter was abundantly blessed.

But take a look at a particular part of the story that could easily be missed. Jesus told Peter to let down his NETS (plural). But Peter said, “I will let down the NET (singular). You see, Jesus’ instruction would have been helpful to Peter. Peter needed to let down his NETS. When he let down his NET it broke with the weight of the fish being caught.

You see how our small-minded thinking can hinder us? If Peter had gone out there letting down many nets he would have received more fish without the net breaking. Oh, he was blessed and received a lot following the words of Jesus. But we see how God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. We limit God when we think too small.

Another way we miss The Big Picture is when our thoughts and interests do not line up with the Father’s interests. We see an example of this with Jesus’ disciples.

They knew Jesus was the Messiah. But what they didn’t understand was the full purpose of the Messiah’s mission. They thought for sure Jesus was going to come and bring some political reformation for the people of Israel. But Jesus’ mission was not political. It was deeper and more important than that. Jesus’ mission was to pay the price so all the world could be delivered from the power of darkness. He came that we might have new life in Him.

Because their thoughts and interests were different the disciples were quite distraught at Jesus’ death. But after He arose from the dead the revelation was revealed to them, and they were ready to go out, witness, preach, and die for the cause!