“And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”” (Luke 5:4–5)
One day, Jesus was taught the Word, using Peter's boat as his pulpit. Pushed off from the shore in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus spoke to his audience on the beach.
Upon completion of his sermon, Jesus told Peter to go out and cast his nets. Peter said, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing, but at your word, I will let down the nets."
I know the Lord is asking some of you to step out in obedience to him, perhaps in areas where you've tried in the past, but seemingly to no avail.
Peter said, "Look Lord, last night we went fishing. We went fishing, Rabbi, at the time when fishermen normally go out to fish. I know you're theologically trained and very studious, but I don't know that you know the first thing about fishing. But we went out last night. We tried and we caught nothing. But because you say it, Lord, because you spoke it, because you've asked me to do it, we will go out and try again."
And of course, the rest is history. You know the story. They went out, and the haul they brought in was so immense that they had to call their partners on the beach to come out and fill their boat as well because of the great catch that they caught that day.
Look, I don't know what the Lord might be speaking to you. Perhaps it's, "Work on the marriage, stay in the marriage." Perhaps it's, "Reach out to that child. Communicate with them. Share the love of Jesus with them." Perhaps it's, "Try to reconcile with another believer that you've split up with and that your relationship has broken."
I don't know what it might be, but maybe for you, you're sitting before the Lord saying, "Lord, I've tried before. I've attempted it before." But say it this way, "Nevertheless, at your word, I will try again."
And perhaps by the grace of God, you'll see God do things that were not done before.
