Deeper Waters

Peyton Johnston

October 16th, 2017

Luke​ ​5:1-11

Jesus​ ​had​ ​a​ ​way​ ​of​ ​showing​ ​up​ ​and​ ​doing​ ​the​ ​unexpected.​ ​He​ ​liked​ ​to​ ​push​ ​people​ ​out​ ​of​ ​their comforts​ ​zones​ ​and​ ​into​ ​a​ ​miraculous​ ​experience​ ​to​ ​show​ ​His​ ​glory​ ​and​ ​prove​ ​a​ ​point.​ ​Usually, He​ ​did​ ​so​ ​in​ ​rather​ ​controversial​ ​and​ ​shocking​ ​ways.​ ​I​ ​mean,​ ​think​ ​about​ ​it…​ ​He​ ​threw​ ​mud​ ​in​ ​a blind​ ​man’s​ ​eyes.​ ​He​ ​touched​ ​people​ ​with​ ​highly-contagious,​ ​deadly​ ​diseases.​ ​He​ ​told​ ​a​ ​rich guy​ ​to​ ​get​ ​rid​ ​of​ ​all​ ​of​ ​his​ ​wealth.​ ​He​ ​regularly​ ​hung​ ​out​ ​with​ ​dirty​ ​outcasts.​ ​And​ ​he​ ​asked​ ​his closest​ ​followers​ ​to​ ​do​ ​things​ ​like​ ​step​ ​out​ ​and​ ​walk​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ocean​ ​in​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​a​ ​storm.

Not​ ​exactly​ ​just​ ​your​ ​“normal-day-in-the-neighborhood”​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​stuff.

In​ ​this​ ​particular​ ​instance,​ ​Jesus​ ​asked​ ​Simon​ ​-​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​he​ ​had​ ​only​ ​just​ ​met​ ​at​ ​this​ ​point -​ ​to​ ​venture​ ​out​ ​into​ ​deeper​ ​waters​ ​to​ ​fish.​ ​Not​ ​such​ ​a​ ​crazy​ ​request​ ​except​ ​that​ ​Simon​ ​and​ ​his fellow​ ​fisherman​ ​had​ ​already​ ​wrestled​ ​with​ ​those​ ​waters​ ​all​ ​day​ ​and​ ​found​ ​them​ ​to​ ​be​ ​uselessly empty.​ ​These​ ​men​ ​were​ ​exhausted,​ ​but​ ​they​ ​knew​ ​better​ ​than​ ​to​ ​refuse​ ​Jesus.

When​ ​he​ ​did​ ​as​ ​Jesus​ ​said,​ ​Simon​ ​found​ ​an​ ​overflowing​ ​abundance​ ​of​ ​fish​ ​that​ ​even​ ​his​ ​nets could​ ​not​ ​contain.​ ​The​ ​weight​ ​of​ ​the​ ​catch​ ​was​ ​so​ ​heavy,​ ​their​ ​boats​ ​were​ ​on​ ​the​ ​verge​ ​of sinking!​ ​Had​ ​Simon​ ​decided​ ​a​ ​second​ ​try​ ​wasn’t​ ​worth​ ​his​ ​time,​ ​he​ ​would​ ​have​ ​missed​ ​out​ ​on an​ ​incredible​ ​blessing.

Sometimes,​ ​Jesus​ ​will​ ​instruct​ ​you​ ​to​ ​do​ ​things​ ​that​ ​seem​ ​a​ ​little​ ​out​ ​of​ ​your​ ​ordinary​ ​routine.​ ​Or maybe​ ​He’ll​ ​ask​ ​you​ ​to​ ​step​ ​out​ ​on​ ​faith​ ​for​ ​a​ ​situation​ ​that​ ​you’ve​ ​already​ ​deemed​ ​impossible. When​ ​that​ ​happens​ ​-​ ​dare​ ​to​ ​answer​ ​the​ ​call​ ​and​ ​go​ ​out​ ​into​ ​the​ ​deeper​ ​waters​ ​one​ ​more​ ​time. Don’t​ ​be​ ​afraid​ ​of​ ​failure.​ ​God​ ​is​ ​with​ ​you​ ​and​ ​will​ ​honor​ ​your​ ​obedience!​ ​He​ ​is​ ​waiting​ ​to​ ​fill​ ​your life​ ​with​ ​more​ ​blessings​ ​than​ ​you​ ​can​ ​imagine,​ ​but​ ​first…​ ​You​ ​have​ ​to​ ​show​ ​some​ ​faith.​ ​You have​ ​to​ ​go​ ​out​ ​into​ ​the​ ​deeper​ ​waters​ ​again.

Pray:​ ​​“Lord,​ ​when​ ​You​ ​ask​ ​something​ ​of​ ​me,​ ​I​ ​will​ ​say​ ​‘yes’.​ ​I​ ​know​ ​You​ ​will​ ​never​ ​require anything​ ​of​ ​me​ ​that​ ​is​ ​not​ ​for​ ​the​ ​good​ ​of​ ​my​ ​life​ ​or​ ​Your​ ​Kingdom.​ ​Help​ ​me​ ​to​ ​be​ ​sensitive enough​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​Your​ ​call,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​have​ ​enough​ ​faith​ ​to​ ​step​ ​out​ ​and​ ​do​ ​Your​ ​will.”