Go Fish

L

ike most guys, I have at least one good fishing story that just happens to be true! No, I mean it! This really happened! Honest! When I was about three years old, my dad took me on my first fishing trip. We went to a small pond near home and he gave me specific instructions on how to catch fish. When the bobber went under the water, which meant fish were on the line. My job was to watch the bobber and let him know when it went under. As usual, I did everything but watch the bobber and when he finally noticed it had gone under he pulled the hook out of the water. There were three, count 'em, three fish on one hook. Not too bad, huh? It was a long time before we went again. Personally, I think his ego was bruised because he didn't catch anything.

Our scripture lesson today is about a fish story and comes from Luke, chapter 5. Jesus meets the people at the Sea of Galilee. There are so many people surrounding him that he gets into Peter's boat and has him put out a little from the shore. He teaches the people from there. He then turns to Peter and tells him to "put out into deep water and let down your nets" (verse 4). Peter, who has been fishing all night with his partners, reluctantly agrees to the Lord's command. They row back out, drop their nets, and then catch such a load of fish it almost sinks two boats.

There is a great lesson here for us today. Jesus taught two distinct lessons from the same boat. The first was for the large crowd that was following him. It occurred in shallow water, just a few yards from the shore. This teaching was for everyone within hearing distance and addressed the crowds at large. The second lesson was for the disciples alone and it involved launching out into deep water. You might say they were in over their heads but this is where the large fish were. Although they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing, they obeyed Jesus and went out one last time with nothing to believe in except his word. Peter says in verse 5, "Master we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

Here is the lesson. We are simply to take Christ at his word. No matter how hopeless the circumstances may seem, no matter how utterly ridiculous the command may sound, no matter how deep the water is, we are simply to "put out into deep water and let down [our] nets." When we do this, when we obey simply because Jesus says so, then we receive the blessing far above and beyond anything we can imagine.

The disciples had to put out into deep water because that's where the fish were. We have to launch out into the deep to receive all that God has for us. Remaining close to the shore is safe, secure, and convenient. God's best, however, does not come to us in safety, security, or convenience. It is reserved for those who will launch out into the depths of his love and faithfulness where the great fish of blessing wait to fill our nets to overflowing.  As the psalmist says "Deep calls to deep!"

So are you fishing with a pole from the shore or are you casting a net on the deep? It can make one "whale" of a difference in receiving God's blessing for you today.