Faith to Receive

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

Luke 5:5

Have you ever tried to look for something in the house; you searched literally everywhere and you are certain it can never be in that house only for someone to walk in telling you ‘Wait, let me help you find it’ Remember that feeling you had? It’s a mixture of the arrogance that you have tried your best and that this person doesn’t know what he is talking about. You were almost going to say ‘You won’t find it, I have searched everywhere’. Then suddenly you hear, it’s here, I found it! You’re happy you found what you were looking for but a part of you is wondering why didn’t I see it?

I’m sure Peter must have felt the same way! He and his co-workers tried fishing all night! It was the best time to have a good catch and they had deployed all the professional tricks but they caught nothing; it was a really bad day and tension was high. Just about this same time, Jesus was teaching around that area and requested for Peter’s boat. Peter didn’t just give the boat, he stayed around to hear the word of Jesus and that word probably contributed to Peter’s faith in addition to having seen Jesus’ healing power in the past. 

Jesus finished his sermon and asked for a rather difficult thing. 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.”

This was a rather profound word from Peter. Peter understood that he probably knew more about fishing than a carpenter did and that he had worked all night without any results. The only reason why Peter did what Jesus asked was because he believed in Jesus, not because the circumstances seemed right but because Jesus said so; his faith in Jesus was well rewarded. 

How high do you esteem the word of God? Do you believe and agree that God meant what He says He will do? Do you only obey God’s word when it is convenient or do you do so in season and out of season? Do you often seek other proof or common sense validation even after God’s word has instructed you? Is God’s word ever enough for you? These might be a lot of questions but there’s just one goal for them all, it is to get us to that point where God’s word alone is enough for us. Even if nothing makes sense, we will still move simply because he says so. If you are not there yet, now is the time to ask for help. 

PRAYER