“BECAUSE YOU SAY SO” (Luke 5:5, NIV)
“Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night
and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so,
I will let down the nets.”
For the past few months, I have been chewing on this idea—4WordMovement. I kept reading the Word and noticing powerful statements composed of 4Words. So, indulge me as I put my thoughts on paper (well, on blog)! I share them because I really think you will be blessed too. Every time a 4Word phrase blazed out on the page, I thought, “Wow, I could spend a lifetime trying to live this little phrase!” Tonight, as I was listening to my friend, Mary, share at our Small Group Youth Meeting, she shared with us how the Lord had challenged her this week with a small portion of scripture, found in Luke 5:1-11, especially verse 5. It reads:
“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘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. But because you say so, I will let down the nets. When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
It seems the Lord is clearly direct in His communication for action and obedience. This is a great lesson in raising our children, and dealing with people in general. No beating around the bush, no long complicated or convoluted explanations that leave an opening for speculation. No dancing on the head of a pin, either! Man likes to make things harder than God intended, I think. But, every man loves his own corner on arrogance. We even get proud of our humility unfortunately.
My favorite 4 words this morning?
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE? The answer is simple.
Thank you for your thoughts! You are the best!
Love, S
Yes, Sherri! I have been thinking about that alot lately. I love Peter’s response so much. It is laden with trust and respect, I think. I find myself repeating often these days . . . “Because you say so, Lord, I will do the next thing.” I do believe that as we obey him in these things and cast our net where he tells us to cast our net, we, too, will bring forth a great catch. And I love Peter’s response to the great catch — true humility. “He fell to his knees.” The best place to be.
It has been a busy day. I am hurrying about getting ready for a trip. As I prayed for direction on a number of issues we are facing, I was immediately struck by a 4word phrase….THY WILL BE DONE!
That is my bottom line…..
Love you!
S
YES! THY WILL BE DONE. I will be praying that over you as you move 4WORD on this trip. LOVE YOU!