By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Because You Say So

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“Jesus said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.'”
Luke 5:4b New International Version

Is God calling you into areas of mission that seem scary and even a little dangerous?  Or maybe where He is calling you to go doesn’t make sense to the conventional wisdom of the day?

That is where Simon Peter found himself when Jesus told him, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Conventional wisdom said that fishing in deep water in the daytime was crazy.  And what were all those other fishermen going to say?  “Well, Simon has finally gone off the deep end.”

But crazy or not, Peter listens to Jesus.  And he lets down his nets into deep water.  And he catches so many fish that his nets begin to break.

And Peter falls at Jesus’ knees and says, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”  Peter recognizes that Jesus is not just another rabbi, He is the Son of God, and Peter is overwhelmed that the Lord cares about him, sinful man that he is.  Jesus’ response is full of grace, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  Peter’s life will never be the same if he follows the Lord Jesus.  His mission will be to bring people to Jesus in all sorts of unexpected ways.

And so I ask again, is God  calling you into areas of mission that seem scary or even a little dangerous?  And I say to you, “Do not be afraid.  The Lord is with you.  Jesus is calling you to catch people!”

Lord, give me faith to follow where you lead, even into deep water.  Calm my fears and direct me where you want me to go.  In the strong name of Jesus.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado