"But because You say so"

9-22-08

SCRIPTURE
"And Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break." (Luke 5:5-6)

OBSERVATION
They weren't just casual fishermen; Simon (Peter) and his fishing partners fished for a living. They were professionals. And there is one thing about men who take their fishing seriously – they know their stuff. They weren't hesitant to invest in the right equipment. They studied the tides, the currents and the pattern of fish movements. They know the right bait for the right fish for the right conditions. Their livelihood depended on it.

They were also men who persevered and patiently waited for the right time and place to cast their lines or lay their nets in order to maximize their efforts. But here they were, washing their nets on shore after a hard night of fishing, returning to the docks empty-handed.

It's in this scenario that Jesus shows up and told them to set out once again. And it didn't take much to convince Simon Peter to do so. Notice he offered no complaints or excuses such as:
"we're too tired to try once more; can't you see we've been there,
“done that and failed;”
“we've been doing this all our life,”
“we know what we're doing, so why are you telling us what to do;”
“what you're asking is impossible;”
“we'll just come back tomorrow and try again later."
He simply obeyed the Lord's Word, and the results were phenomenal, exceeding their wildest imagination. Their obedience (despite the circumstances) brought blessings.

APPLICATION
Sometimes I wonder just how much of God's blessings we forfeit (miss out on) when we fail to simply obey God at His Word. We look around at our circumstances and assume we know more than God. We'll analyze God's instructions.
Are you really asking me to submit to her in our marriage?
You mean I should start doing daily devotions?
I’m not too sure how to lead our family spiritually.
Are you sure you want me to serve in the church in that area?
Start a Life Group for my neighbors? Are you kidding?
You mean we’ve got to get our finances in order so that we can give more away?
We analyze God’s instructions and assume we know more and eventually after all our efforts we've ended up empty handed and frustrated. We trust more in our past experience and our own accumulated knowledge. Then, if we can't see the results, we return to shore and miss the blessing God has waiting for us.

God's blessings are often hidden in treasure chests which can only be unlocked by faith; a faith where we willingly step forward at His Word, without regards to results, without regards to our past, without regards to whether it makes sense. It's a "But, because you say so" type of faith. And that’s the type of faith that I want.

PRAYER
Father, forgive me for being too analytical in my faith. That has kept me on the shore, rather than being willing to follow Your Word to step out into the unknown. Forgive me for finding safety in my own ways, rather than being willing to trust in Your Word. In whatever area of my life and ministry You are asking me to step out into the deep, may my answer always be, "Lord...because you say so." Help me to develop the “but, because you say so” type of faith in You. Then help me as I model it for my family, church and neighbors.