(The following is the March 9 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Luke 5 and pay close attention to verses 4-7.)
Everyone has subjects about which they are more knowledgeable than other people. Through years of study or personal experience, we better understand our profession and other topics of interest. We become the go-to person others approach with related questions.
How do we respond if someone offers us advice about doing what we are very skilled at, especially if that advice is contrary to what our experience tells us? We are probably hesitant to listen to them, much less do as they say. We believe we know better, and we may.
Consider when Jesus told Simon Peter to put out into deep water with his boat one day and let down the nets to catch fish. Simon, a professional fisherman, knew how to fish. He knew they were usually more successful at night than during the day, and he told Jesus, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing” (v. 5). Can’t you hear the tone in Simon’s voice as he questioned for a moment Jesus’ advice? But Simon relented, saying, “if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” The result was a catch so large their nets began to tear. They had to summon nearby partners to help them haul it in.
Jesus did not give them a fishing lesson that day; he gave them an obedience lesson. Christ was not instructing them about permanent fishing technique changes contrary to what their years of experience taught them. He showed them they needed to listen to and obey him to experience life’s best rewards. Only in hearing and following Christ faithfully do we leave behind our feeble, unsuccessful human attempts at life and experience the fullness of what our heavenly Father has planned for us.
Listen to Jesus. Trust and obey him. The reward will be great.
Next Step:
Is there an area of your life you are holding back from Christ’s lordship because you believe you know what is best? Pray for God to open your heart to his guidance in that area. Search for his wisdom. Obey him and see how he rewards you.
