by Kala Loptien

Full Nets

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“And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.’”
Luke 5:4-5 English Standard Version

They were probably a little bit grumpy. Having toiled all night, and yet, fishermen without fish. In this passage, we see our Lord first taking the opportunity to preach and teach from the boat. Simon Peter heard these words. That was his boat being used as a pulpit, so to speak. When Jesus then told them to let down their nets in the deep water, you can imagine the slight hesitation. Yet, something was working in those first disciples already. Imagine their faces when they witnessed a net-breaking, boat-sinking catch. Peter’s humility and recognition of His Lord brought him to his knees. At the end of that passage stands one of the most important and shocking actions. “And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” 

Have you ever found yourself trying, wishing, hoping, praying with all your might for something to happen? Have you ever been in a place of worry, wrestling with a circumstance? Maybe you’re working really hard to prove yourself. Maybe you feel a little bit like Simon Peter — casting into deep water with nothing in your net. Often, we work, we toil, we stress about our circumstances. We wonder why we’re coming up empty. We have to ask ourselves: where does our help come from? Our Lord speaks to us the same way today — through His Word and Spirit. He’s telling us to cast that net; but it won’t be what we think. The net, the boat, the water, AND, the fish… all intentionally planned, purposeful and in His timing. We just have to trust by following — letting go of everything else. 

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado