Into the Deep 

   “After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’” (Luke 5: 4) 

   Here we have Jesus, a carpenter, telling Simon Peter, an experienced fisherman how to fish.  When I read scripture such as this I immediately understand that there is more than meets the eye in those words.

   Though Peter knew that what Jesus was asking of Him made no sense, He complied with Jesus’ request.  As a result, He gathered more fish than one boat could carry, so many that two boats were filled nearly to the point of sinking.  How did Jesus react?  “Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.” (Luke 5: 10).

   Jesus is telling me the same thing every day of my life, “Don’t stand on the shore and watch, enter the deep water; follow my will.”  Christianity is not a spectator sport; we are meant to get involved and committed.  If we refuse, we will never get the “catch,” the blessings, that God wants to give us.  If we invest little, we will receive little.

   He calls each of us and, if we answer His call, great things will happen.  By casting our nets in shallow water will never get a great catch of fish.  If we want to catch the big ones and lots of them we must put out into the deep waters.  We must trust in Jesus even when we can’t see the logic for what He asks; we must follow His will.