2/14/10 Luke 5
Believe, Trust, and Obey
In the beginning paragraph of Luke 5 Jesus is teaching the word of God and there was a great crowd pressing in and trying to hear Jesus. Probably, because as the last chapter stated that his speech was “gracious words which were falling from His lips;” (Lk 4:22) How has your speech been this past week? So Jesus decides to get into a better position where he will be able to teach and gets into Simon’s (Peter’s) boat. After his teaching he then instructs Simon to put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch. Simon answers basically saying; Ah Jesus we have just spent the entire night and have caught nothing, but I will do as you say. There seems to be some doubt and hesitation in Simon at this command. He could have had an unspoken thought like this; Ah, Jesus, you are the great teacher and you do it better than any, but fishing is our thing this is our profession and we just spent the entire night out there and caught nothing, let try again tonight when the fish are biting.
Simon nonetheless obeys His Master and does let down the nets and what happens there is a huge catch of fish, so much so that the boats begin to sink. That is a lot of fish. Simon’s response is rather stunning he falls at Jesus feet and says; “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Simon was an individual who recognized his sinfulness in the presence of Jesus.
I wonder do we do the same thing with Jesus? Jesus says to go back to that person you have been witnessing to and share the gospel again. Do we doubt and hesitate? Do we obey as Simon does? After this Jesus tells Simon not to fear but from now on you will be catching men. As disciples of Jesus we are to be fishing for men. Even if we labor for years without a catch, when we hear Jesus tell us to go back again we must believe and obey. Jesus makes all the difference in our witnessing. He can in a moment cause a great catch of men.
Prayer: Our Father, it is my desire that I would be a faithful fisher of men that you have called me to be. I pray that Spirit will lead me to individuals that are in need of salvation. I want to believe and trust you at the moment that you give a command. I am afraid that I fail often, and I like Simon am a sinful man, and I confess my doubt and fears to you asking that you will give me the grace to believe trust and obey. In Jesus name, Amen.