Luke 5:1-11 (NIV84) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Launch Out Into the Deep

It is a great lesson of faith for us. Look at Luke 5:1-11. Even before we look at the Scripture reference our flesh is somewhat squeamish at it being "deep" out there. Our Lord beckons us now as He did His disciples then to launch out into the deep to be fishers of men. We are prone to stay in the shallows.

Reading v. 4 the flesh says, "If we do we shall be imperiled for you know how quickly a storm can come up on the sea and being so tuckered out how could we weather such a tempest?" Today also the old flesh can come up with a multitude of excuses to not go, not to do the work set before us.

Reading v. 5 "All night and nothing . . ." As if the Lord did not know that! Can you detect the slight recrimination, exasperation, reluctant submission? Despite this the Lord blesses. It is no different today for us, who are of the same nature as those then.

Reading vv. 6-7 "HELP! The nets are breaking." Filling both boats these then begin to sink. In our overseas opportunities to be fishers of men we face the nets full to breaking and the boats are sinking as they are so "overloaded." But what great problems to face! The great catch is out there and He beckons us to "launch."

Reading v. 8 We know it takes humble submission to Him and His directions and purposes, and not ours.

Reading v. 9 Aren't we astonished at the opportunities to catch men or do we look keenly at the tearing nets and sinking boats and wonder, "How can it succeed?" The Lord knows.

Reading v. 11 The only response is total dedication to the task; our wherewithal after all is His. Do we look at this from the perspective of limited resources (tearing nets and sinking boats) or do we get the big picture of reallocation, dedication and prayer?

Fight the good fight With all thy might;
Christ is thy strength and Christ thy Right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 447)