1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Luke 5:1-7.
- Why Peter’s Ship?
There were “two ships standing by the lake.” Why was it to Peter’s ship that Jesus went? It was “two ships” that Jesus “saw.” Why was it to Peter’s ship that He got attracted? Peter was not the only ‘contender’ for the great blessings that eventually came to him for lending a ship to Jesus on that uniquely providential morning that did not look like one. He was not the only disappointed fisherman at the shore, washing frustrated nets from a failed fishing the night before. Why did Jesus not go to any of the others? Why was it Peter’s ship that got the chance to fill the ‘vacancy’ looking for a ship that day? Were the other fishermen far from their ships at the time Destiny called? Were they unknowingly repellently unfriendly with tiredness as Jesus approached, seemingly to further task their thin patience with a request? Whatever it was that turned Jesus in the direction of the discouraged Peter, may it bring the Master your way this morning. May your ship not miss a transforming encounter today, even though the day might have started with the very opposite signs of the blessing that is coming your way. Good morning.
- Not the Number of Previous Toils
After the use of his boat, Jesus asked Peter to “Launch out into the deep… for a draught,” but Peter protested, “I have failed in too many previous trials to want to try again. I have known sufficient prior failures to know that this present proposal will yield nothing, too. My most recent practical experiences advise me contrary to Your holy prescriptions. Failure in the best of places at the best of fishing times tells me that Your words would be hard to ride out with… Nevertheless.…”
Your future success is not dependent on your previous failures; not on how many previous failures. Peter had toiled all night; had made many futile efforts through a dark night without a single fish; even then, he was at the moment only a paddle away from so much fish with far less comparative struggle; so much fish at the most unlikely time in the most unlikely place. Never gauge your future with your past. Never judge your coming success by your many passing failures. One remarkable encounter might be all it will take to repay the wasted toils of previous nights. No matter how reluctantly a night might drag, no night lasts forever. The morning comes, and the Master waits at the shore. Good morning.
- One More Attempt
In Proverbs 24:16, the Bible states that “a just man” (of all men) might fall as many as “seven times,” but he rises up again. That passage does not announce the many falls of the just man; it celebrates his consecutive triumphs in spite of the many falls. If he did not get up the last time he fell, he would not have fallen the next. He might have fallen seven previous times, but at last we find him strong on his feet, beyond his many falls; we find him where he falls no more. Peter had ‘good’ reason to never cast a net again after the many failures through the night, but he said to the Master, and Master indeed that was: “Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” again.
The next trial might be all it will take to turn your story around. A man is said to have dug a well 36 feet down but met no water, and had good reason to give up. Another man took up the dry well project and dug only one foot. He found waiting water. So much might depend on the one more step you should summon courage to take, in spite of the many falls. Those who fail to try again sadly die with memories only of their failures.
Zechariah had ‘good’ reason to not go to the temple anymore to perform his routine sacrifices after which he would often come out to meet the strange faces of his worshippers who probably worried about their pastor that prayed for others while his own very apparent embarrassment of childlessness lingered stubbornly on. Thank God, he did not miss the Service on the day that Angel Gabriel came to church with an answer from Heaven (Luke 1:8-21). Had that priest missed that Service… had he failed to take that ‘one more’ step… who knows!
May your past never steal your future. May the many frustrations of yesterday never make you miss that one more step that should repair all the reproaches of yesterday. In spite of the fears of the future and the failures of the past, when the Master has spoken, the risk is worth taking, and we can say, “nevertheless at thy word I will…” I should say, though, as only a Peter can tell you, that that ‘next step’ is a hard step to take, especially after repeated failures; but if the Master has said so, then it is worth another try.
From The Preacher’s diary,
May 30, 2016.
Continued in Part 2 of 3
If the Master has said so it is worth the try.Thank You Sir for that wonderful message.
Very insightful, inspiring and challenging.
Great encouragement
Like always, this came with so much freshness and insight that one can only thank God and ask Him to please keep helping and blessing The Preacher, both the messages and the messenger.
Thank you so much for this timely encouragement
“May your past never steal your future”
AMEN