GO FISH
April 19th, 2007
Leslie
When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 4:4
But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. Luke 4:5,6
I have so much to learn, and today I decided to think through Luke 5:1-16 from Peter’s perspective…
He was probably tired, from fishing all night without success, and having to clean the nets. He may have been hungry, and discouraged. I wonder what prompted him to take his boat out again for Jesus…I see that he was obedient there… or curious. It does not say how long Jesus talked from the boat, but Peter was a captive audience.
When Jesus started to talk about fishing in vs 4, I think Simon started to operate in his flesh. Jesus was about to show Simon that He would bless him, and meet his needs, and Simon was ready to be the expert about fishing. I am glad that Simon made the choice to heed the word of Jesus to let down the nets. In vs 5 it says that Simon let down the net.
Jesus wants me to trust in him for my needs. Beyond that, He wants me to apply my God given gifts and talents to further His kingdom. To be a fisher of men. (Matt 4:19) I do not want to be like Simon, in some respects. I can see that he did not understand who Jesus was at this time, and that he only put one net into the water at the request of Jesus.
I want to stay in the same boat with Jesus, to hear teaching from him, and to receive instruction. I want to set aside the areas of my life that I feel I have a handle by myself, may expertise in ”fishing”. I desire to be quick to obey Jesus, even if I have been ”fishing all night in my own wisdom and strength.” I want to develop the kind of faith that allows me to concentrate on Eternal things in the midst of the day to day, while I am out “tossing the nets.” But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt 6:33)
Lord, thank You for meeting my daily needs. Thank You for your word that includes people like Simon. I want to stay close to You Jesus, to be about the work of the kingdom. Please help me to step out in faith, and toss all of the nets to bring in a big catch. I want others to know you Lord and have Eternity with You. Lord today I long to keep my eyes on you first as I head out into the world.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Because You Say So – Luke 5:5-11
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Oh the faith of Peter! I am so glad he didn’t stop with logic and reason alone. For logic and reason said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” But, Peter took a step of faith and said, “But, because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
This reminded me of a story that just happened a couple days ago. I attend a class within our church where I met a hurting young lady a few months ago. She would dare not lift her head and look into your eyes. In fact, for the first month of the class she hid in her wheelchair behind the bleachers as she listened to the teachings. However, as the class progressed, so did she. A saw leaders loving her, encouraging her, walking through some tough teachings with her; and I saw a glimpse of a smile begin to appear on her face.
I watched from afar as the Lord touched her heart and began to heal it. About a month ago, she was baptized and what a touching sight that was to behold! Her determination got her in the tank that evening, even though she had to overcome the logistics of a wheelchair and a cast. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the sanctuary that night.
Sunday night following a difficult teaching, she needed prayer. The leaders took her into a back room and prayed over her, not just for healing of the spirit, but also for mending off her body. At the end, they trusted in the spirit and one of them spoke, “Sweatheart, do you want to get up and walk?” Through joyous laughter, this young lady stood up and walked. Walked is an understatement, she almost ran through the church. What a sight to behold! What a miracle!
Tuesday I attended a concert in our church with my family and another leader’s family. He tapped me, “look over there!” I looked up and saw this young lady briskly walking towards us, no wheelchair in sight, and a beaming smile on her face. WOW! We watched as she buzzed from one friend to another and received a excitedly shocked response from those who knew her as someone in a wheelchair. She told us that she has a doctor appointment in a few days with a doctor that told her she would never walk again. She can’t wait to walk into his office for the checkup.
Wow, I was an eye-witness to the faith of Peter. Where others would have stopped with logic and reason, Peter said, “but because you say so, I will…” Last Sunday night a prayer was prayed that went beyond reason and a word was said that went beyond logic and God preformed a miracle that went beyond our highest expectations, not unlike the miracle that follows the above verse: “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink”.
Lord, I pray that we all would have the faith of Peter and be willing to cast a net that went beyond reason and logic simply because Jesus said so. I pray that we wouldn’t miss out on the tremendous miracles because we failed to take steps out onto the sea. In Jesus name, Amen.