Need a little encouragement in the middle of your week? Start your Wednesday's off right! Renew your spirit and refresh your soul.
Do you tend to stick with what is familiar even if you are hoping for different results? How does that usually work out? Does anything change if you don't change anything?
In Luke 5:1-11 we see Jesus provide a miracle for Simon (also known as Peter), in a normal everyday task. Simon's profession was a fisherman and after a long night out on the water, he had caught nothing. When Jesus instructed Simon to go into deeper water and put down his nets, notice what Jesus says... "for a catch." There was no "in hopes of or maybes."
Simon's simple reply was, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught a thing. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." (5:5 emphasis added).
What was the difference, why would they catch fish now after having no luck all night long? Simon teaches us three valuable lessons: belief, trust, and obedience.
Despite the fact that Simon stated they had no luck all night, he still believed, he still trusted, and he still obeyed. He trusted that Jesus would provide even in his day-to-day needs. He didn't tell Jesus "umm, no that would be a waste of time, we've already tried and caught nothing." Instead he took the leap into the deeper water and obeyed what Jesus said and believed Jesus would follow through.
Can you say you are willing to enter into deeper water if Jesus instructs you to do so? Do you question Him or move forward in obedience and trust? Do you really believe Jesus will follow through?
Even if the deeper water is out of our comfort zone, He is leading us there for a reason. We will never know that reason or the miracle that could happen if we are not willing to fight our own unbelief and follow in obedience. We don't have to know the outcome to trust it is good. We just have to believe, we just have to trust, and ultimately obey.
