Follow "at Your word" as Peter taught us

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

- Luke 5: 5-6

There are three very important things revealed in these two verses. First, Peter called Jesus Master. Second he obeyed. Third, blessing came from obedience.

According to John’s gospel, Peter’s brother Andrew had gone out and found Peter and told him they had found the Messiah. Luke tells us that Peter had seen Jesus cast a demon from a man at the synagogue, healed his mother-in-law of a fever and healed many who came to Him that evening at Peter’s home.

This day Jesus was crowded by the people. He got into Peter’s boat and asked him to put out a little from the shore. After He finished speaking, He told Peter to go to deep water and cast in his nets for a catch.

Peter called Jesus Master, one who has authority, a skilled Rabbi. Peter was skilled at fishing. He didn’t think Jesus understood fishing. He knew you caught fish on the Sea of Galilee at night, not during the day. He didn’t really believe they could catch fish now. But at Jesus’ command, Peter let down the nets.

There are times we, from our human perspective, do not understand certain commandments in the Bible. There are times we don’t understand the command of the still small voice inside or the nudge we feel to do something. It is not important that we understand.

It is important that we obey. That’s what Peter did, “Nevertheless, at your word, I will let down the net.”

Those are beautiful words.

When Peter had let down the nets, they caught so many fish the nets began to break. They called their partners to come and help them. Then they filled the boats so full they began to sink.

Peter experienced abundance for simple obedience. We may or may not experience the same kind of abundance for obeying, but we will experience God working in a supernatural way and we will experience the blessing of a closer walk with our Lord. Obedience draws Him near.

If you read this passage in Luke, you will see that Peter is not focused on the catch or the money the fish will bring. He has witnessed something supernatural, something divine and it terrifies Him. He now sees Jesus in a different light. He knows no human could have done what Jesus just did.

The light Peter received spotlights his own sins. He asks the Lord to leave because Peter sees his own sins so clearly and He is in the presence of divine purity. It is terrifying to see your sins for what they really are, but God reveals them so we will repent of our sins. Only then can He help us change our course.

Jesus tells Peter, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Peter, Andrew, James and John pulled their boats on shore and left everything behind, including the large haul of fish, and followed Jesus. This one act of obedience changed their lives forever.

They have seen the power of one who controls all creation. They have seen Jesus heal people. They have seen Him cast out demons. They have seen Him change lives. Now they have seen Him control the physical world as well. They have encountered the Great I AM.

Have you encountered Him? If not, you should, right now. If you have, obey Him. You will never regret it because you will receive His favor on your life.