By Judy Villanueva

Luke 5:3-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the Sea of Galilee, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God,  he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake;  the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”  

When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken…

I wonder how Peter felt as he agreed to let down his nets for a catch, even though he had been out all night fishing with nothing to show for it.  I wonder if he rolled his eyes as he said, “Yet, if you say so, I will.”  He had already cleaned his nets and must have been exhausted, so putting out into the deep with Jesus would cost him time, energy and maybe the nap he’d hoped for.

I wonder…oh how I wonder… how he felt when the nets filled with fish and began to break!

Or, when the boats began to sink under the weight of this unprecedented catch!  Can you imagine that moment of bounty?  It was a tidal wave of provision that knocked Peter right off his feet!  It was also an announcement that Jehovah Jirah, Our providing God, was present and, in fact, next to Peter in the boat!

It amazes me to watch Jesus in this passage as He ministers to each need from the people gathered on the shore hungry to be taught to Peter in the boat — ready to be caught!   At first glance, it seems like Peter is on the peripheral of this story until Jesus jumps into his boat and asks to go fishing.  Don’t you love Peter?  I love that he first tried to explain to God that he’d already “been there and done that!”  I love that he did it anyways!  And, I love Peter’s heart that, upon witnessing the bodacious power of God, fell down before Jesus awakened to holiness!

I find myself drawn to Jesus’ invitation to “put out into the deep waters”.  What might that mean for me today in my life?  Or, for you?

It seems to be a call to move away from the safety of the shore and all that I think I know, and point my heart and will at Jesus.

No matter how inconvenient or nonsensical, when Jesus speaks to me I want to pray, “Yet, if you say so, I will.”   Do I dare put out into the deep waters of faith and trust Jesus to do the impossible for me?  Can I let go of what I think I have control of and obey His every word?  I don’t want to miss the chance to fish with Jesus and experience the wonder of Him touching my life — or any chance to witness  our net-breaking, boat-sinking God!

“Father, forgive me for ever doubting that You are a good provider.  I hear your invitation to put out into the deep!  Help me to point my heart and will at Jesus and to do whatever You say.  Thank You, that You cannot help but be faithful!  Amen.”

What about you?

Do you want to go fishing with Jesus?

Are you available to follow Jesus and do whatever He says?

How do you respond to Jesus’ invitation to put out into the deep waters?  What might that mean for you today?

Do you know God as Jehovah Jirah, God our provider?

Worship: