Let Down Your Nets
After a frustrating night of fishing, Peter was compelled by Jesus to try one more time. Logic and experience told Peter that it was futile to fish at that time of day and in that place. Yet, to his surprise, as he obeyed Jesus’ word, so many fish entered into his net that it began to break. This was a miracle catch and revealed to Peter that Jesus was worth giving up everything for and following.
Miracles convince us of God’s Omnipotence and lifts us up in our faith. Miracles draw the crowds and make the news. We all like miracles, because it is God working on our behalf. One time I saw a video-clip of a couple of fisherman in their boat on a river and the fish were just jumping into their boat. Hundreds of fairly large fish just going crazy, jumping all around them and filling their boat. I don’t know what caused this phenomenon, but it was really amazing to see. Isn’t this the kind of miracle that we all want to experience?
Peter’s miracle catch was not this kind, it involved human agency. The fish didn’t just jump into the boat. Peter was involved. He had to put out to sea, cast out his net and pull the fish in. It was not a just sit back and let God do all the work, it was a partnership of God working through Peter.
With God nothing is impossible and apart from Him we can do nothing. It was Jesus’ presence that made the difference. A miracle brings glory to God and so He has ordained to receive glory by working through us.
God has chosen to work with man in the accomplishing of His purpose. He works through the foolishness of preaching to bring man to salvation. The harvest, without the harvester, stays in the field. So don’t just sit and wait for a miracle to fall from the heavens. Cast out your nets. Jesus is there with you to make the miracle happen. As you step out in faith, go against the logic of past experience, and obey His Word, the supernatural occurs.
We are to do what we can do. God does what we cannot do. We pray for the sick and the Lord raises him up. We preach the Gospel and the Lord brings the salvation to the lost. We humble ourselves and the Lord exalts us. We give offerings and the Lord multiplies our gift and supplies all our needs. As we step out of the boat, He holds us up on top of the water. We don’t do the miracle, God does, yet without our involvement the miracle may never come.
Scriptures to mediate on:
Luke 5.4; 1.37; Mat. 17.20; John 15.5; Ps. 18.29