ACE #281: Just Because the Lord Says So

In Luke 5, "The Calling of the First Disciples," something interesting happened that I never gave much thought to before now.  It reads:

Luke 5:1-5

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,^[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
⁵ 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.”

I have always been caught up with the part of the story, in verses 10 and 11, where Jesus tells the men that they will catch men, or become fishers of men.  It says that these men left everything and followed Him.  Yes, there are things and people we will have to leave behind in order to follow Jesus.  But something profound happened before that moment.

Jesus instructs Simon to let down his nets for a catch into the deep water. Simon responds by saying, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets."  After Simon had done so, they caught so many fish that the nets were going to break. They had to call for help to get all of the fish in the boats.  Then the boats even began to sink.

It occurred to me that there are just some things we ought to do just because the Lord says so.  No questions.  No smart mouthed remarks.  No complaining.  No fussing.  Just because the Lord commands us to do it!  Just because we desire to be obedient to His instructions.  Just because we trust Him that much...

While Simon could have been a little sarcastic in his response, he had already tried everything except Jesus.  It also shows that whether we are in the shallow waters or deep waters of life - the Lord has the ability to bless us...either way.  He only required one thing for the men to be blessed beyond measure...their obedience. 

 

Just because the Lord says so...