After they’d fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets (Lk 5:4).
The real test of faith comes when
(a) all you know and everything you’ve tried doesn’t work
(b) The Lord speaks a word to you that seems to make no sense at all.
Listen to Peter’s response: ‘…nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net… (Lk 5:5).
That’s it! Doubt your doubts, but never doubt God; one word from Him can change everything.
Listen: ‘and when this they had done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake (Lk 5:6).
There are four lessons here for you today:
(1) He’ll involve you in one thing to teach you another. Soon He was going to involve them in an even bigger miracle – catching multitudes and bringing them into His kingdom.
(2) He’ll use the familiar to do the incredible. In their workplace, where nothing special ever happened, He suddenly showed up and changed everything. Look for Him today in the familiar and in the unexpected places of your life.
(3) He’ll move you from the security of the shore to the risks of the deep. Why? Because you’ve got to risk the great storms if you’re going to enjoy great catches. No risks, no rewards!
(4) When you obey God – nets break, needs are met, minds are blown and He is glorified. But remember, the miracle can’t begin until you say, ‘…nevertheless at Thy word, I will… (Lk 5:4).
Luke 5 (New Living Translation)
The First Disciples
1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
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