“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  Luke 5:4

“And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!  But at your word, I will let down the nets.’  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees saying, ‘depart from me, I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:4-8

When it comes to walking by faith as Christians, most of us are very skilled agnostics, far more likely to rely on what we “see” and “know” based upon our experience, or our “skill.”  We call this being prudent, or “common sense.”  Now of course, God doesn’t want us to go off ignoring being careful or ignoring our reason.  The great difference is when we have a word from the Lord!  Jesus told Peter to “let down the nets!”  It seemed crazy to Peter.  After all, he had been a professional fisherman all his life and he knew this lake like the back of his hand.  What could Jesus know? Jesus was a carpenter, not a fisherman!

Listen!  Based on “common sense,” David would never have challenged Goliath.  Joshua and Caleb would never have wanted Israel to go up against giants and high-walled cities (Numbers 14).  Peter would never have gotten out of the boat in Matthew 14 to walk on water to Jesus.  None of the apostles would have laid down their lives for God.  What was the difference?  A call from God!  To be sure, there is a fine line between faith and foolishness.  To those looking on who have not heard the voice of the Lord, it will seem foolish for sure.  When God really calls you, He will make it clear and He will confirm it.  It will be by His Word, through circumstances and sometimes through other people.  The question is:  Are we open to hear the voice of the Lord if He wants to move in our lives?  If the only things we ever do are things we feel able to do, why do we need faith?

As my wife and I look back on our lives, the greatest experiences we had were when we listened to the voice of God and He took us out of our comfort zone.  When Peter saw what Jesus could do, it resulted in worship and awe.  Friends, there are things God would like to do in your life that only He can do.  When He does, you will know that only He deserves all the glory!

Pastor Terry (2014)