At Your Word

Lk.5:5, ‘But 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.”’

Simon Peter had an encounter with the Lord before he left everything to follow Him. In Luke 4:38-39, we see Jesus healing Peter’s mother in law, but this did not seem to touch Peter’s heart. In John 1:40-42, we see how Andrew, Peter’s brother introduced him to Jesus and He called him Cephas. This too did not seem to touch Peter’s heart. Not all things that happen in our lives might touch our hearts. But if we are predestined souls, we see the Lord coming after us till we respond to Him.

Peter too was sought by the Lord. In this chapter of Luke 5, Jesus preached by the lake of Gennesaret and a huge crowd pressed upon him. But here His eyes fell on the two boats standing by. These boats were empty and their owners were not among the people who were listening to Jesus. This was unusual. Anyone would be attracted naturally by a crowd but these two lives were not with the crowd. They were washing their nets. Fishermen earn usually on a daily basis. One day of empty nets might mean going hungry that day. Peter and his brother’s mind and heart might have been caught up by anxious and discouraging thoughts. They might have been concerned about their hungry families. Such a mindset might have not allowed them to join the crowd listening to Jesus. Often anxious minds keeps us away from His Word.

But Jesus was concerned about them. He sought their souls. But before reaching out to their souls He had to reach out to their empty situations. For this He had to first draw their attention to His Word.  For this, He asked them their boat to be used as a pulpit. Reaching out to souls might not be easy, for people are more concerned about their worldly needs than their spiritual needs. We need to take efforts to meet their worldly concerns first.

It was important that they listened to His Word to increase their faith for a miracle to happen. Hence Jesus asked for their boat. Peter  gave his boat for Jesus to preach and in the process they listened to His Word. After hearing His Word, their faith in His Word increased. Hence Peter said, Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Peter was a professional fisher man. But his experience, knowledge and hard work had seen empty nets. Yet His Word touched His heart and he was ready to cast his nets once again at His Word. He realized that there was power and authority in His Word. He realized that it was worth casting his net once again irrespective of previous night failures. He realized that His Word is more powerful than his years of experience, expertise and efforts. Its easy to linger in past failures. It blocks our minds from going ahead. There are enough people around to keep us reminding about our past failures. But if we are God’s children, we ought to realise that our faith does not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of His Word.

Peter and his brother cast their nets at His Word and witnessed a great catch of fish. His Word not only creates, It has power to bring His creation to the commanded place.  Lk.5:8, ‘When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Here we see the true purpose of the miracle being fulfilled. Peter did not fall down before the multitude of fish which could give him riches of this world. He fell down at His feet who did a greater miracle of transforming his heart. The purpose was to convict Peter’s heart of his true identity more than giving him a great catch of fish. God has done innumerable miracles in our lives, but its true purpose is  to see more of ourselves through His eyes and thus, submit more of ourselves to Him.

Lk.5:11, ‘So when they had brought their boats to land, they ^[a]forsook all and followed Him.’ Peter realized who he himself was and who Jesus is. Thus he could forsake all to follow Him. Forsaking the worldly attractions is essential to follow Him. Its letting go off the passion for this world and its attractions. One cannot love the world and the Lord in the same manner. Its setting our heart for the Lord even when we do our earthly responsibilities.

Simon Peter tasted the power of His Word. It had torn apart the veil which had blinded his inner eyes till then. At his Word, he offered his empty boat. At His Word, he cast his nets. At His Word, the miracle was performed. At His Word, he forsook the miracle. At His Word, he followed Him. We witness transformation of Peter. The willingness to obey His Word each time in a spontaneous way caused this transformation.  A disciple’s life goes ahead, grows and bears fruit ‘at His Word’. As we center our lives around His Word, we witness it’s power, authority and Lordship over our lives. May our hearts never ever depart from His Word which is He Himself.

God bless us all.