“Simon answered, Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5
Simon, with several other fisherman, were sitting on the shore mending their fishing nets. They had been out all night trying to catch some fish and were unsuccessful (like I would be). Jesus comes up and asks them to take Him out on the water a little ways.
While out there Jesus begins to teach them. Luke does not tell us what He had taught. At the end of His teaching Jesus tells Simon to let down the nets to catch some fish.
Simon may have been thinking who is the professional fisherman here as he makes the statement in the verse today. How could Jesus help them, He is not a fisherman? Yet, Simon, recognizing Jesus as the Master, obeys because He said so. He does make the statement about how they had no success during the night, but that does not stop Him from obeying Jesus.
Often in life a person struggles at doing something. He fails over and over. He gives up because it just is not working. Everyone else may even be telling him to quit and do something else. In the eyes of everyone it looks hopeless.
Yet, Jesus comes up and says go ahead and try it again. This time Jesus was telling Simon what to do. Before, Simon was just doing what man has said to do, and he failed.
No matter what your experience or knowledge is, or what others may say, if Jesus says do something…you must do it. Like Simon, recognize Jesus as the Master. He has the experience and knows what is going on and what is best.
Also, like Simon, just go ahead and do what Jesus says. God has a reason for your doing what He is calling you to do, regardless of how ridiculous it may seem. Neither you, nor any other person is the true expert in anything as Jesus is.
Read the next few verses and see the great catch of fish that Simon brought in because He obeyed Jesus in something that sounded crazy.
I pray today that you will hear what God is saying to you; that you will see Jesus as your Master; that you will do what Jesus says to do; that you will allow yourself to be led by God’s Holy Spirit; and that God will use you to catch many people for His kingdom.
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