Cast Your Net

Luke 5:4-5 “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” ~CSB

In our commission in becoming Christ followers, we automatically took the order to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19). When we are saved and in church, we praise the Lord and vow to live a life in obedience and declaration in our testimonies of the Father.

Testifying to those that 'want' to hear the Gospel is easy.  It is the testimony we make to non-believers that is the hard work. We may not necessarily preach the Gospel, but our obedience in the circumstances surrounding us and those who God will bless through us, could be the ‘testimony in our actions’.  The non-response, or negative attitude of those non-believers may be the ‘empty net’ you pulled up on the side of the boat. 

When we and the non-believer part ways, we have that feeling that we may not be a ‘good servant’ because we have nothing to show for our efforts. We feel this way because we did not see any progress in the ministry sent in their direction. We go home and think, "I did not make a disciple today." But what we don’t know, (because we didn’t see it), is that God planted the seed through us in them.

In the text, Simon, (Peter), and his crew have been fishing long and hard all night with nothing to show for their efforts.  They even cleaned the nets they were using as they were about to quit for the day.  When we think we did not seed in our testimony, we begin to ‘clean our nets’ because we are about to ‘quit’.  But make no mistake, God doesn’t use you for you to be satisfied.  He uses you in your purpose for His will in the situation. We must do as we are told and take the action of discipleship.

Jesus told them, “...let down your nets for a catch...” Imagine what was going on in the minds of Simon and the others when told to do this. But against Simon’s judgment, (and all he knew about fishing), he says, “...if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”  He followed the commands because his Spirit drew him to follow the instructions of a Higher Power.

Sometimes we may receive instructions that may seem funny to us but follow them we must.  How do we know they come from on High? We won’t unless our relationship with God is strong. He has already laid out the path for our lives.  Allow His will to take over and when you cast your net into a sea you think is empty, you will come up with an abundance in blessing, so much that you can’t keep it all yourself. 

Simon and his crew hauled in so many fish that their boats were about to sink.  Verse 8 says, “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees...” He knew Jesus was the Messiah and thought himself unworthy to be blessed by His presence.  But God will choose you no matter what you think of yourself. Be ready because God will tell you to get up! Let’s go and spread the Gospel by telling others about how God blessed you in your life!

May God bless and keep you covered in His peace as you continue your journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

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