Put Out into the Deep Water
George tied a rope on the handle of his wagon so he could move the wagon more easily. He pushed hard on the rope and the wagon didn’t move. Then he pushed harder and grunted at the same time; it didn’t work. Figuring it must be the rope, he got a stronger rope and tried that. The wagon stayed still. Finally, George gave up. Poor George didn’t figure out that ropes are meant to be pulled, not pushed.
Today we meet “poor Simon” who couldn’t things to work out for himself, no matter how hard he tried (Luke 5:1-11).
Jesus had just finished speaking to a crowd, using Simon’s boat as his “stage”.
“After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’ Simon said in reply, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.”
Simon’s first attempt to catch fish failed. It was probably his own idea to go fishing and he spent the whole night working at the job. Results: no fish. Then he let Jesus into the boat. Jesus told him to try once more. Though he objected to the idea, Simon did as Jesus told him. This time he didn’t have to work at all, and he caught so many fish that his nets began to tear. When he let go of his own efforts and let Jesus take charge, Simon had the most successful day of fishing he’d ever known. Which makes us wonder why did the run away from Simon’s net when he was in charge and then flock to his nets when Jesus was in charge?
How many of us are trying to solve a problem in our lives and no matter how hard to “push the rope” the issue doesn’t work out? Have we come to the point yet when we will “let go and let Jesus?” We proclaim him as “Lord and Savior” when we go to Church. Even though we say the right words, are we still trying to “push the rope instead of letting Jesus help us “pull it?” When we stir Jesus into the “ingredients” of our lives and follow his lead, problems begin to be solved and an abundance begins to happen. Sometimes we need to let go of our way so we can do it Jesus’ way. Poor George couldn’t push and pull at the same time.
On with the story,
“They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.”
When Peter started doing Jesus’ work instead of his own, he was so successful that he needed the help of another boat. Does this remind us of the day of Pentecost when Peter’s sermon won over 3000 converts in a single day. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he began to do Jesus’ work of “fishing for men,” and people, like fish, began to flock into his net. Immediately, I’m sure, all the other Apostles were put to work that day baptizing people and talking to them about Jesus.
God has a plan for our lives. It is much bigger than our little brains can handle. Sometimes he lets us keep pushing until we’re exhausted before he steps in. When we discover Jesus’ plan for our lives and follow his leading, we will be amazed at how well things work out.
We live in a world of problems. People are pushing and shoving, screaming and shouting and their nets remain empty. How long will it take for us to let Jesus into the boat? He is God’s answer, the only answer to life. And yet the Evil One keeps brainwashing us into believing that our own answers are better than God’s.
