Luke 5:1-7. Jesus’ relationship with the disciples begins and ends with a miraculous catch of fish. There are several lessons to be learned from this story, and the first is this: It is important to obey Jesus. “Listen to Jesus, and do what he says.” It was difficult for these fishermen to listen to the suggestions of a carpenter. After all, this was their profession, not his. They knew about fishing, and were perhaps some of the best fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Besides, what Jesus was suggesting did not even make any sense.
Sometimes God puts you in situations where it seems like there is no answer. You’ve tried everything. You thought you knew what was needed for it to be done. Maybe it worked before, so you think you already know how to do it, and now someone’s telling you a simplistic answer that drives you up the wall. Perhaps God is asking you to do something beyond what is just basic, it may even seem like it’s something foolish or it’s so obvious. They had been fishing on the left side and now Jesus thinks fishing on the right side of the boat will make a difference!
Jesus could have made the fish swim into the net while it was on the left side of the boat? Why go to the bother of having them take the nets out and put them in on the other side? It wouldn’t have involved the aspect of obedience. Jesus did not do it all for them. He tested their obedience so that they could learn that blessings follow obedience. In your relationship with God, success follows obedience, even when what he is asking you to do seems ridiculous to you. You are not smarter than God. You can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. You can’t rebel against God, go against what he is telling you, and expect success. You can’t do all the wrong things and expect good things to happen. It doesn’t happen that way. Success comes as you are willing to listen to Jesus and do what he says.
What he was asking them to do did not seem that different from what they had been doing all night. It was not so much something different as much as more of the same. But when it comes to following God, you can’t give up. And you can’t always rely on your knowledge and training. Jesus wants you to have a teachable spirit. Having a teachable spirit is one of the most important characteristics that you can have in life. There are some people to whom The Holy Spirit simply can’t tell anything, because they think they already know it all. They don’t want advice. They don’t want to hear it and so they never learn. You have to have humility and a willing spirit. So Ask God to Grant you a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12). You have to be willing to listen to Jesus and do what He says.
Jesus could have made the fish swim into the net while it was on the left side of the boat? Why go to the bother of having them take the nets out and put them in on the other side? It wouldn’t have involved the aspect of obedience. Jesus did not do it all for them. He tested their obedience so that they could learn that blessings follow obedience. In your relationship with God, success follows obedience, even when what he is asking you to do seems ridiculous to you. You are not smarter than God. You can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. You can’t rebel against God, go against what he is telling you, and expect success. You can’t do all the wrong things and expect good things to happen. It doesn’t happen that way. Success comes as you are willing to listen to Jesus and do what he says.
What he was asking them to do did not seem that different from what they had been doing all night. It was not so much something different as much as more of the same. But when it comes to following God, you can’t give up. And you can’t always rely on your knowledge and training. Jesus wants you to have a teachable spirit. Having a teachable spirit is one of the most important characteristics that you can have in life. There are some people to whom The Holy Spirit simply can’t tell anything, because they think they already know it all. They don’t want advice. They don’t want to hear it and so they never learn. You have to have humility and a willing spirit. So Ask God to Grant you a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12). You have to be willing to listen to Jesus and do what He says.
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