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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“He [Jesus] said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” (Luke 5.4-11; all emphasis mine above and below, jb).
Peter considered himself a sinful man but he, for some reason(s) unknown to us, obeyed Jesus’ commands regarding the nets. Even a fruitless night’s work did not stop him from doing Jesus’ bidding. The fact that it was now daylight and the prime hours of fishing in the clear waters of the Sea of Galilee had past, Peter did not refuse the Master. Even thought fishing was Peter’s profession and all things being equal, he would have superior knowledge of fishing over that of Jesus, Peter agreed to do Jesus’ bidding. And the result was far more than even the most fertile imagination might have dreamed! So tremendous was the harvest of fish that the boats began to sink from the huge catch that was encircled by Peter’s nets. Nothing but a miracle could account for such a massive catch; it was this realization that compelled Peter to confess his sinful character and to declare by his actions the superiority of Jesus!
The phrase “at your word” which was spoken by Peter carries the simple force of “based upon your word alone…!” No other evidence was needed. All the proof in the world does not make a sure thing any more sure and Peter knew this fact! The evidence that Jesus was superior so moved Peter and His partners and friends that they immediately forsook their nets and began to follow Jesus (Luke 5.10). Seeing the strong passion which Peter and his friends had for fishing, Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5.10).
Peter was not the only one to have ever acted merely upon God’s word. When Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, He did so based solely upon God’s word. Hear him speak: “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.” (1 Kings 18.36-38). The result in the days of Elijah were tremendous. “Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!’” (1 Kings 18.39).
The Psalmist had this same attitude about the word of God. He wrote, “I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure.” (Psalm 119.162). Would that this attitude typified all who hear God’s word, but all too frequently hearts are hardened through unbelief and they fail to respond favorably to His commands. God has done great things to cultivate faith in the heart of those who follow Him, but the one thing He cannot and will not do; He will not change man apart from faith in His word!
Questions:
1. What evidence did Peter have that said that Jesus would not be successful in assisting them with their fishing duties?
2. What was the immediate result from the great draught of fishes?
3. What resulted from Elijah's triumph over the prophets of Baal?
4. How important is it to take God at His word?
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