Authored by Mary Lucas
 
Read: Luke 5: 1-11
 

Reflect: 
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve 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 5:1-6
 
I am sure Peter and the other fisherman were tired and frustrated.  They had been out working, fishing all night, and had caught nothing. They were now cleaning the big heavy nets getting ready to put them away so they could have a rest from the long night out on the water. Along comes Jesus, who is a carpenter, not a fisherman and tells Simon to take the boat out again into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch.  His command would have made no sense to a fisherman. All fishermen know you fish at night when it is cool because that is when the fish come to the surface, and the nets were constructed of linen and less visible to fish at night.  Besides, they had already done that and caught nothing.  The chances of catching fish during the heat of the day would be very slim. Besides, they were tired; they had already cleaned the nets and were ready to put them away. 
 
Peter starts to explain this to the carpenter… “Jesus we have worked hard all night…we are tired…we’ve already cleaned up…. the fish aren’t biting…..BUT….”  The word ‘but’ is a great word in the bible for it shows that circumstances never get the last word.  Here Peter says, “but because you say so”.  Why was Peter willing to express such complete faith and obedience when it made no sense? Why should he obey a man that knew nothing about fishing? Why was Peter willing to walk in complete and immediate obedience to this man who was sitting in a boat, teaching?  I am not sure the exact reason, but I love how he said, “Because you say so, I will…” No questions asked. No hesitation. No arguing over why it made no sense. Only complete surrender. Total obedience. An immediate reaction.  I am challenged by Peter’s faith, by his unquestioning obedience to Jesus.
 
May we be the same and say, 
Because you say so, I will love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37).            
Because you say so, I will love my neighbour as I love myself (Matthew 22:39). 
Because you say so, I will love my enemies, and bless those who curse me (Matthew 5:44). 
Because you say so, I will strive for unity with all believers (John 17). 
Because you say so, I will be still and know that you are God (Psalm 46:10).
 
Pray:
Spend some time meditating on Jesus, thanking Him for being your Saviour, and acknowledging Him as your Lord, and ask where you need to be obedient to what He is asking of you.