WORDS IN RED

A GENTLE NUDGE

LUKE 5:4

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Luke 5:4 (KJV)

 

            I am the first to say that one must be led of The Spirit to be pleasing unto God but I also think that he sometimes works on both ends.  There are surely times when Christ is both leading and gently pushing.  I give thanks for the leadership of His Spirit.  Grateful too, am I for many nudges along the way.

            In our text we see Jesus gently nudging Peter to go back out into the deep part of the sea and try for a catch.  This was not an easy task for Peter.  It took hard work just to maneuver the ship back into the deep water.  Fishing the deep waters was not as simple as dropping a worm over the side of the boat and reeling it in.  Several men had to skillfully drop a large net from the ship; physically work it correctly in order to drag and catch fish, if the fish were there.  Peter got it right when he said “we have toiled all night.”  He needed to be gently nudged into this action because he was tired.

            Another reason for a gentle nudge might be that we sometimes think we are the specialist.  We might think we know more than God does.  Peter was a master at fishing.  He would be at the top of the Bass Masters Tour today.  Have you ever tried to tell a real fisherman how to fish?  If you have I’m sure you remember that conversation.   I remember telling a mechanic what I thought was wrong with my car one time.  After my detailed analysis he told me to stick to preaching and he would take care of my car.  It looks like dangerous waters for the Preacher from Galilee when he gently pushes Peter by telling him how and where to fish but that was exactly what Peter needed.  Sometimes we do not know our limits until we are pushed.  He pushes us to test us.  Peter’s nets were tested.  His physical abilities were tested.  The partnership between Peter, his brother and his friends was tested.  The faith of Peter and his partners was tested.

            We are also encouraged to find a deeper more meaningful and fruitful relationship with Jesus.  Notice the fruits were so large that the net broke and ships began to sink and Peter began to confess and repent.  Which of these results do you think Jesus was most pleased to see, the catch or the repentance?  You know he was most blessed by the repentance.  We too may be nudged a little that we might be led to a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus.

            Thank you Lord for your blessed Words in Red!

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Brother Randy Burtram

 

(Originally published March 1, 2015)