Luke 5:1-8

Luke 5:1-8 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 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.” 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. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Jesus sat down in a stranger's boat and taught the Word of God to people on the land. After He finished, this stranger, Simon Peter, must have been impressed with Jesus, for he called him MASTER. However, as a professional fisherman, he disagreed with Jesus' command to go into the deep water and let down his fishing nets, for he believed strongly that it would be a futile activity; however, he chose to obey this man who impressed him so much with his teachings. Peter and the rest of the fishermen were surprised when they caught an abundance of fish, almost enough to swamp two boats. Peter, the professional, knew right away this event was a miracle. He no longer just respected this man, Jesus; he knew He was divine. He knew this amount of fish could not have come from just the natural act of fishing; something supernatural was involved. He was undone by this presence: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Sometimes we need to let down the nets even though WE KNOW THERE ARE NO FISH THERE. Peter went where the Lord directed, submitting to the Lord's command. This is hard for us professionals. We are the living--we know how to live because we spend every day doing so. What does God know about living? He is spirit. We humans are the ones who struggle through every day for sustenance, for a safe and secure existence. But Jesus, the carpenter, says, "Try again, cast out your nets, and you will see my glory, for I am God. You will see my intervention. You will see my abundant supply." Can we believe for God's abundance when we see no fish in the water, no hope of reward or production there? Can we really believe or in discouragement will we pull in our nets and stop fishing? We have a choice. We can hear the Master say, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Or we can hear ourselves say, "I quit, this is a useless enterprise." Sometimes the latter is easier to say, for it demands little of us, but the former demands that we get back in the boat, row out to the deep waters where the wind is whipping our boat. Sometimes the latter is dangerous to our ego, our self-esteem. Will we fail again? Will we come up empty again? But God in many ways is saying to us, "Strike out to the deep. There you fulfill my will by letting your nets down at JUST THE RIGHT TIME."

Are you doing that? Are you saying, "MASTER, I will follow you regardless of my insight, my knowledge." Some of us need to reapply for God's workforce, for the next job. Some of us need to pray again, for the next miracle. Some of us need to fish again, in the same lake. God is asking some of us to move, so we might be what He wants us to be. He is asking us to walk by faith and not by sight. Throughout scripture we see that persevering faith is what pleases Father God. As we read in Hebrews, But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. Hebrews 10:38 Notice, the catch was so great that Peter needed help from others to bring in the fish. Jesus knew this would happen when He requested Peter to launch out again and let his nets down. He knew Peter would understand better who Jesus really was after this event. He knew Peter would really know him from that time on as Master.

Jesus' blessings, his filling of our nets, are for his purposes not ours. His blessings should bring bended knees of thankfulness to him. If so, we won't spend our time building bigger boats, buying more nets, constructing more buildings. We will spend our time, praising him, serving him, for He is truly God, our MASTER. Peter, James, and John did not become better fishermen or businessmen; they left their boats and nets to follow him. We also should follow him with the same dedication. God's blessing falls on those who serve him, who hear his voice. Be prepared to receive his blessing, for He loves his children. And in thankfulness give it all back to him. Give him your time, your money, your service, for He is worthy. Therefore child of God, launch out again if the Lord is telling you to do so; an abundant harvest awaits you.