This week we welcome into the pulpit, Eva Watt. Eva has been one of our partners in mission and is a long-time friend of SCBC. Her missionary work in Macau was filled with experiences of God’s goodness and faithfulness and we look forward to her sharing.
Her text is Luke 5:1-11. As I read the passage I can’t help but be transported to a lovely evening in early March last year when a small group of us stood at a village excavation site on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (or Lake Gennesaret, as Luke calls it). Our guide retold the events of this text and emphasized Jesus’ command to Peter (he is known as Simon at this point) to “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.”
It isn’t hard to imagine Peter’s hesitation at the request. He and his crew had been fishing hard all night and had not caught a thing. They were professional fishermen and knew the likelihood of catching anything now, at this new time of day, was slim. On top of that they were tired and defeated and ready to go home.
But notice that after Peter expresses his hesitation he says to Jesus, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” What a beautiful word of obedience and faith. He recognized that the Lord was worthy to be followed. So he drops his nets and “they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”
Our guide, standing on the shore on that late February evening, then asked us, “Where is Jesus the Lord calling you to “Put out into the deep? In what areas of life are you hesitating to obey and follow his command? Are there situations in which you have tried your best and nothing has come about for the kingdom – but Jesus calls you to try again, only this time trusting him? Where are you tired and defeated and ready to go home – yet Jesus calls you back and to have faith in him in the midst of it?”
Can I encourage you to not rest in your hesitation when Jesus calls you to put out into the deep waters and trust him. Instead move through your hesitation and realize that Jesus Christ is Lord and because he calls you – even if it goes against your judgement, your understanding, your experience, your exhaustion, – “let down the proverbial nets” and obey his call in your life. And then see what wonders he will bring about.
Looking to move into the deep waters with you, Pastor Tom.