Continuing our excursion through God’s word, today’s reading is Luke 5 & 6
One point I’d like to consider is Simon’s response to Jesus in 5:5.
Simon had labored all night fishing with nothing to show for his work. There was no reasonable, natural explanation for setting off and trying to catch something else. Yet, when Jesus told him to go out and cast his nets the response he offered was excellent:
And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5
Contrary to his experience as a fisherman, Simon heeded the command of the one he heard teaching. This expression of faith should be an example to us all.
He could have done as many and made the statement and let it sit at that. How often do we agree with a point made in a sermon or discussion in a Bible class, but then forget what was said by the time we are on the road home? It is easy to make assertions describing what we claim to believe, but if we leave it there, we’ve missed the mark.
We should seek to emulate the example of Simon in this instance by not only proclaiming our faith in words, but proving our faith in deed! Had he not cast his net, he would not have enjoyed the bounty of this catch. This brings to mind a verse in Malachi
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Malachi 3:10
We are to resolutely endure trials so that we may test and prove our faith and proceed to maturity (James 1:2-8; 1 Peter 1:6,7). God is asking Israel to test Him with their faithful obedience to see if they could fathom the richness of His blessings.
We need to remember that all good things in this life are gifts from our Heavenly Father. It is because of the greatest gift – the sacrifice of His Son – that enjoy this relationship. We are to conform ourselves to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Jesus went to the cross, not because it was something He was eagerly and joyously awaiting, but because it was necessary to faithfully follow God’s plan. We must be willing to – even when it’s difficult or doesn’t seem to make sense – obey God. We need to have the attitude that, no matter what God asks of us, we can respond – at your word, I will.
I’ve always liked that story (the fishing one) too. To me, Christ’s message for Simon and all of us is, “If you want bounteous blessings, you must trust and obey. I won’t disappoint you.” I’ve also thought about how sometimes we get so discouraged because we’ve toiled and toiled with nothing to show for it, but we need to “cast our net” one more time.