Small investment, big return

When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch.’

‘Master,’ Simon answered, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break.  (verses 4-6)

Read Luke 5: 1-11

In Luke’s gospel this incident happened after Jesus had healed Simon’s mother-in-law, and it was the occasion when Jesus called Simon (Peter) to follow him and ‘catch people’. Peter’s brash, down-to-earth approach is well known to us, so for him to respond to Jesus’ idea of throwing the nets in again after a futile night’s work was rather surprising. But Jesus said so, and Peter acted quickly – he already had reason to believe that obedience to Jesus was the right way to go! The results speak for themselves. More fish than Peter had ever dreamed of. No time to argue, debate, disagree – so much work to do that recruits had to be called for.

Do you sometimes marvel at how much Jesus’ word produces in spite of so little faith on your part? You need never be afraid to speak up for him, or to obey him out of love for him, because you may get to see some surprising results sometimes. His ability to make things happen is beyond question.

Lord Jesus, help me to obey you, even when it seems pointless. Let me surrender myself completely – body, mind and soul­ so that you may be glorified. Help me to ‘dig deeper’ into your word and spend more time discovering your will for me. Amen.

by Alicia Simpfendorfer, in ‘God’s Peace for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2005)

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