​

​

The Great Haul of Fish

Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)

​
I’ve tried. I worked hard all day and nothing! I’ve been praying for so long and nothing! Do these exclamations sound familiar?

We hear the despair in Simon’s voice when he responded to Jesus’ directive to him to “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.” (Luke 5:4,5)

I often hear myself saying, “Lord, I keep praying and nothing.”

My net keeps coming up empty. What am I doing wrong? Am I not praying right? Why don’t things change? This person is struggling. Another one is in pain. No breakthrough! Where are the fish? Not necessarily an abundant catch, but perhaps just a few fish?

I didn’t finish Simon’s response to Jesus. He continued to say, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Our pastor once said that wherever you see a “but” in scriptures, you better chase it. The “but” here is worth chasing for it leads us to grasp the words of obedience spoken by Simon.

His obedience led to their seeing a miracle. How often we forfeit the miracle because of not being obedient!

God wants us to also trust in His provision. The night of unsuccessful fishing by the fishermen had been in their own strength. The abundant catch of fish now was a provision of the Master.

How frequently we forfeit God’s provision when we try to earn it all or make things happen by our own strength! All too often, moving in our own strength blocks God’s miracle of provision.

When we strive on our own, we come up empty. But when we move in God’s presence, we come up full.

With his astonishment at the abundant catch of fish, Simon fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8,9) Jesus’ reply is interesting to me in that He said, “Don’t be afraid.” I wonder what Jesus saw deep inside of Simon at this moment that caused him to say, “Don’t be afraid.”

Afraid of what?

Afraid because of his sin? Afraid of what it might mean to put his faith in Jesus? Afraid of what it would mean to follow Jesus? Afraid of what Jesus might expect of him? Jesus finishes saying to Simon, “From now on you will fish for people.”

When God does a miracle in our lives; when he provides abundantly or unexpectedly; what does that require of us?

What does our respone to a miracle look like?

The response of the fishermen was: “They left everything and followed Him.”

When you think of God’s miracle of saving us from our sin; God’s miracle of redeeming guilt or shame in our lives; God’s miracle of healing...

What will be our response?

​

PRAYER:

"Jesus, thank You for always setting us up for obedience. May we be willing to submit to what You require so we don't forfeit the miracle You have for us. Help me not to go my own way and live in my own strength. Pour me out so I can be filled with You. I love You and trust You, Amen."

STUDY & REFLECTION:

Read Luke 5:1-11.

Think of a time when you worked really hard or prayed long and hard and felt nothing. The net was empty. How much was self-effort and how much was leaning on the Lord? How often have you forfeited the miracle by proceeding in your own strength rather than abiding in His presence? What miracle do you want to see? Write it down. Take Jesus into the prayer boat with you as you cast out into the deep.

LIVING UNVEILED & FREE:

The nets were lying on the boat empty. They had to be empty for God to fill them. Is there a miracle that God wants to give you, but your net is not empty? What is entangled in your heart’s net? Is your net filled with self, with pride, with sin? Will you empty the net entirely so there is no smelly fish of sin entrapped in the net so that God can fill your net with a miracle?

When we experience a miracle, are we willing to live out what God expects next? The fishermen left all – their livelihood, their known way of life, in order to walk an unknown journey. When we walk in the wake of the miracle, we can trust that God will walk with us.

​
Meet Our Devotional Writer:

Donna Gudgel

Hi! I am Donna, better known as Valerie’s mom. I am married to her dad for 51 years and Nana to four “lights to the nations” grandchildren. I enjoy being outdoors – walking and enjoying all of God’s creation whether it be trails through the forest or splashing water along the beach. Another love is playing worship songs at my piano. I get excited and the adrenaline flows when I teach God’s Word whether it’s speaking in a church in India or facilitating learning in a small group setting. God is good and faithful. He is my daily strength. He has brought me through times of sorrow. God is Healer. He has healed me of cancer and a brain aneurysm. I know He still has me here on earth for His purposes. Therefore, I rejoice daily in life and the opportunities He gives me to make Jesus known.

CONNECT:

Click on the purple button below to leave a comment and/or a prayer request.

​

Copyright 2022. Unveiled and FREE Ministries. All rights reserved.

​www.valerielmcmahon.com​

​