Simon Peter Fishing in the Deep

Luke 5:4-8 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

Proverbs 20:5. “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water. But a man of understanding will draw it out.”

The Challenge

Unless you live under a rock you have heard the smash hit by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper titled Shallow. The lyrics (please look them up) expound on the need to get out of the shallows and dive deeply to explore relationship, to want more, to face fear.

In Luke’s gospel he recounts the challenge Jesus issues to Simon to do the same: get out of the shallow, by trying One. More. Time. But, this time, do it in deep water. Poor guy has fished all night. He is bone tired but something deep within compels him to listen and if for no other rational reason than to prove Jesus wrong (because he is a fisherman and Jesus is a carpenter), he launches the boat. Jesus is all about relationship,

The Battle for Supremacy

In the movie, Pretty Woman, Richard Gere tells Julia Roberts, “relationships:impossible!” I concur. Do you have a relationship that nothing you do helps? A relationship you value despite the fact it exhausts you? A relationship you know is important even if others cannot see it? A relationship you are not ready to give up on just yet? Me too!

Jesus, suggests a different course. One that makes not a lick of sense to you or me! He sees what we cannot. He sees below the shallow into the deep possibilities. In every relationship there is a battle: A battle for supremacy, a battle to be right, a battle to be in authority, a battle. It is quite exhausting. But, Jesus is oh soooo patient!

The Reward

When you are an expert in your field of work and someone suggests a course of action you have never seen be productive, what do you do? Ignore? Argue? Resist? Try your way again? OR. Give it a try because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Nevertheless, Simon, the pebble, chose Jesus suggestion despite his DOUBTS! Nevertheless. It astounds me how a single, seemingly insignificant word can fly off the manuscript of scripture and sail into my heart and mind and the Holy Spirit begins His work of chiseling this piece of stone! Nevertheless, it means in spite of that, notwithstanding, in any case. Simon did argue and resist but in the end, nevertheless, Simon launches and he and others reaped a huge reward: fiscally and spiritually! Simon Peter demonstrated what Jesus knew he’d become: Peter, “the rock!” Hence, there are no shallows in Scripture only deep truth that changes us!

The Challenge Remains

If your relationship(s) are in a place you find frustrating and uncomfortable, it is time to hear the words of the Master. Launch out from the shallow and dive into the deep. Let Him fill your boat to overflowing because you were obedient even in doubt! Nevertheless, let Jesus guide you from the shallows to the deep. (Remember, it will not make any sense to you!) Launch sister, launch into the deep! This is where the reward is.

Listen from a spiritual point of view!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUnk1td2sQU

 

I Will Listen To His Voice by Twila Paris