One More Time

There are times that our Lord will ask us to do things that defy explanation. These things will seem to be counter-intuitive and defy common sense. Ultimately, these things will require that we step out in faith.

This is precisely what happened to Simon. He has been fishing all night and has come in to clean the nets and wrap up his fishing trip. Jesus decides to use Simon’s boat as a pulpit of sorts. Jesus ask Simon to push back so that He can teach the masses that have gathered. When Jesus is finished teaching he tells Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4, ESV). Simon’s response, “Master we toiled all night and took nothing!” Basically he is saying, Jesus we have been at this, I really don’t know what one more pass is going to do. However, Simon’s next comment is the most important, “But at your word I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). Of course, the rest of the story is that Simon caught so many fish he had to call to others for help.

How often has our Lord asked us to stay with it just a little longer? How many times He asked us to do things that seemingly made no sense? These are the requests that we need to give our attention to. We, like Simon, need to be willing to push out one more time, drop our nets when it makes no sense, and keep pressing on. Maybe, just maybe, we will see the same result that Simon did.