Luke 5:1-4 ~ And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
We were blessed with a long weekend in celebration of Labor Day, a fitting lead in to today’s blog. I love Sunday’s, it is the highlight of my week when I get to fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, hear the word of God and receive that manna from Heaven that the world knows nothing of. But then comes Monday, or in this case Tuesday, when it’s time to launch back out into the world. I don’t always go willingly, sometime I complain to the Lord that I’d rather stay in the church! That’s my happy, happy, happy place. But the Lord said as clearly to me today as He did Simon, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for draught.”
Simon had come in from a long night of fishing, he and his partners had been toiling (laboring) all night and caught nothing. He’d come in discouraged and tired; but not so tired that he didn’t have time to listen to the word of God. He’d take time for that! The people were pressing so hard against Christ (they desired the Word that much) that He asked Simon if He could use his boat to get away from the shore so the people could hear and see Him as He preached. It is my prayer that our congregations press the doors of the church that hard.
Christ preached the Word of God to those in the boat and out of the boat and then He turns to a tired fisherman and says, “Launch out into the deep again.” And although Peter was tired and told the Lord that there was nothing to be caught he obediently launched back out. And oh the blessing from his obedience.
Vs. 5-7 ~ And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
They caught so many fish that their nets broke and their ship began to sink! Peter was so astonished that he fell at the Lord’s feet and began repenting.
So it’s Tuesday. We’ve heard the Word of God, we even got an extra day to refresh ourselves, but Jesus has called us to get back to work. Not only doing what we do for a living but for Him as well. Christ used the very tools that Peter made his living by as an illustration of the ministry. Can He not do the same with our ships?
Vs. 8-11 ~ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Where ever it is that we are today is the place that God has called us to labor. Our jobs, homes, meetings, etc. are the deep that Christ has ask us to launch ourselves into and let down the net to catch His fish and reel them in. The world is every bit as deep and dark as the vastness of the ocean and we are the vessels that God has chosen to use to see them saved.
So we’ve tried and failed, try again. Our efforts will not go unrewarded. He filled Peter’s boat, which had moments before been used as a pulpit, with more fish than he could have ever dreamt. He’ll do no less with an obedient servant today…
Launch!