Letting Down the Nets: A Lesson in Obedience

Most of us know the story of Jesus calling His first disciples, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew and their friends John and James, sons of Zebedee, as they were called to become "fishers of men".  But as I was reading with my son this morning, I heard it again with new eyes from Luke’s perspective in Luke 5. 

Simon and Andrew had been fishing all night in the Sea of Galilee and had caught nothing, so they came back to shore and began washing their nets.  Then, Jesus, still at the start of His ministry, asks for Simon to put his boat out a little ways so He can sit in it and teach people.  Simon kindly obliges.  What does he have to lose while he’s working on cleaning up?  Certainly not any fish!  When Jesus has finished teaching, He tells Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Now, Simon could be thinking, “This is crazy!” and that it is a waste of time.  He’s probably exhausted and perhaps even frustrated from a long, unfruitful night of fishing.  But, we don’t know for sure because all the text says is, “Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.’” 

Now for the part that struck me as wonderful and fresh, following Simon’s statement he continues on and says, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  Did you hear that?  Simon said, “Because you said so.”  Talk about obedience!  This is the obedience I want in my own life - an obedience that comes from a willing heart. What nets do I have to let down?  What barriers do I have to lower?  What obstacles must I release in order to obey God as Simon did?

Simon saw the shortfall in his own efforts the night before, and yet, he tried again with Jesus and he found success.  In fact he was so successful, that his nets began to break and James and John had to be signaled to come over and help out.  When all the fish were put into their two boats, the boats were so full that they began to sink!  This event was so astonishing to Simon, his brother Andrew, James and John that they pulled in their boats, left everything and became disciples of Jesus.  Thus, Simon obeyed before he had a deep relationship with Jesus.  His obedience actually preceded their friendship and discipleship.  Furthermore, once he followed Jesus, he remained devoted until the end of his life.  Do you suppose that obedience can reward all of us with that kind of deep and significant relationship with Christ?  Do you suppose that kind of obedience will help us endure until the end of our life?

Dear God, please help my heart to be obedient simply because you say so.  Help me not to doubt that the fish are there because I haven’t seen any yet.  When you work in my life, cause me to signal others to share in the bounty’s harvest.  When you reward abundantly, help me to be so astonished that I leave it all behind just to follow you.  Keep reminding me that YOU are the reward and that your relationship is all I need.  Show me how to be faithful to the end like Simon.  Amen.