DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- AT YOUR WORD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – AT YOUR WORD

"When He (Jesus) had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.' But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking." (Luke 5:4-6)

Sometimes Jesus asks us to do things that don't seem reasonable or rational. They go against our experience. They don't fit the natural scheme of things.

It has been observed that Simon and his crew normally would have fished at night. Fish seek cooler water. So during the day, they go down deep and are harder to catch in a net. They come to the surface during the night as the water cools to eat the bugs that are on top of the water. It was against reason or experience that they would catch fish during the day. This was Simon's natural thinking. This was before Jesus had called the disciples. But Simon, who is called Peter, had seen enough of Jesus' ministry of miracles and teaching to know that if Jesus said it, it must be true. He had personally experienced a miracle when his mother-in-law was healed (4:38-39). So he said, "At Your word, I will do it." Even if it went against what he thought made sense, he would do as Jesus said.

When Jesus asks us to do something that doesn't fit our reasoning, we sometimes argue with Him. But His way is best. When Jesus says to love our enemies, we say, "But Lord, look what they have done to me." When Jesus says to give up everything to follow Him, we say, "But Lord, I need some security." When Jesus said, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it," we say, "What?" When Jesus says, "If you want to be great, be a servant," we say, "That's not the way the system works."

But His way is always the way to life and peace. If we want to experience a truly full life, then we will do what Jesus says. It may not fit our rational thinking or our experience, but if Jesus said it, it is the best way. The song says,

        I'll say, "Yes, Lord, Yes," to Your will and to your way.

        I'll say, "Yes, Lord, Yes", I will trust You and obey.

        When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I'll agree,

        And my answer will be, "Yes, Lord, Yes."

Love, Dad