Today's Reading:
Genesis 12,13,14; Luke 5
Scripture
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” (Luke 5: 4-5, 8)
Observation
Peter and the other fisherman spent the night doing what they knew better than anyone else. They used to fish for a living and they were the best, so, when Jesus suggests that they throw their nets to the other side of the boat they must’ve rolled their eyes, thinking that they had already tried to catch all night and an amateur suggests moving the nets just a few feet like it’s going to make any difference. But, after all, He was the boss and He had done some pretty spectacular stuff, so they complied with Him out of deference and obligation. To their shock and amazement, the nets are filled to the brim, threatening to rip because of the huge catch and they fill 2 boats almost to the point of sinking. But how is this possible? They were the experts and they tried all night to land a catch and they didn’t.
Application
We try to fit God into our world, our box and understand Him according to our knowledge, but God is all-knowing and all-powerful. We can’t understand Him, we don’t have the capacity to comprehend Him and His power. Often times our experience and expertise get in the way of our understanding of an omnipotent Creator. We think that we know better and that we have it down, but our rules and limitations don’t bind God. I was raised in a Christian home and have been following Him for my whole life and I sometimes let my knowledge (albeit limited) determine my decisions, rather than my faith. God may say to let the nets down on the other side of the boat and my answer is that “I know better, I’ve been there, done that; I’ve fished all night long and there are no fish there.” I allow my intelligence and experience to limit He who is limitless. I have to learn to rely on my faith over knowledge. I must remember that I really know nothing, especially in comparison to the One who knows it all. The only limit is my faith and if God says that there are fish on the other side of the boat I must follow with a full expectancy of a miracle.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive me when I limit You by my immature faith. May my insignificant knowledge never determine my decisions. I want to give You control because You know the beginning from the end and see around every corner. I love You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen
