4When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5But 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.” 6And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. (Lk 5:4-6)
Notice that in verse 4, Jesus tells Simon (Peter) to let down his nets [plural] in order to catch fish. Simon basically has some skepticism, but says, “Okay! I’ll put THE net down.” And that single net was no match for the quantity of fish that filled the net to the breaking point!
This is the result of doubt—not faith. Jesus was prepared (I believe) to fill every single net that Simon would have put down into the water that day. If Simon had put down three nets, he would have filled three; if he had put down four, he would have filled four. But doubt prevented him from truly complying with Jesus’ instructions.
Now, was Simon still blessed? Of course, he was! Do you think his faith was strengthened by this episode? Undoubtedly, yes.
But, do you think that the plan of Jesus for Simon was much more prosperous than Simon could envision? I believe that it assuredly was. But Simon’s sight was limited and narrowed by doubt.
Let us learn a great lesson from this Biblical account, and adjust our own behavior and mindset when reading God’s Word for us. We must learn to obey God to the last detail of His instructions to us. If you doubt anything—doubt your own doubt! Trust God to do impossible (miraculous) things in order to bless you.
Let us learn to launch into the deep of obedience to God with great trust and faith in His plans for us and His vision for us, in Jesus’ Name.
decidingvoteblog 