Nevertheless Obedience

"When He [Jesus] had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." ⁵ 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."

Luke 5:4-5

Peter and his fellow fisherman had toiled all night long for a catch and caught nothing.  These men were not casual fishermen who knew little but were seasoned professionals who knew the best times, the location of secret spots, and owned quality equipment to ensure success.  Over and over they cast out their nets only to pull them in completely empty.  Under the cover of darkness they moved the boat and tried again.  Empty.  Finally after fishing all night, they called it quits and headed back to shore to clean up.  They worked to wash the nets of debris and weeds which were caught in the net.  Then Jesus arrived at the water's edge and taught the people from Peter's boat.

After Jesus preached, He bid Peter to launch out and lower the nets for a catch.  Under normal circumstances, Peter wouldn't have bothered.  If he had been unsuccessful all night, how could the bright and hot conditions improve his chances?  Simon Peter reluctantly (but wisely!) answered after toiling all night and catching nothing, "Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  Luke 5:6-7 describes what happened after Peter and his fishing buddies obeyed:  "And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷ So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink."  The primary lesson from this portion is not to make fishing in the heat of the day the pattern for success and fruitfulness, but to obey Jesus because He is the LORD.

A lot of what passes for Christian ministry consists of following programs and patterns which have been successful in the past.  How important it is to be led by Jesus as we minister unto Him!  Sometimes Jesus will have us do something which seems unlikely to be practical, effective, or fruitful, but because He directed us obedience to Him makes all the difference.  The children of Israel were commanded to daily circle Jericho silently, and on the seventh day make seven circuits around the city and shout:  it was not until they were completely obedient God wrought a great victory.  Naaman the Syrian was directed to dip seven times in the Jordan, and it was not until he rose the seventh time from the water he was healed of his leprosy.  Doing what Jesus asked seemed an exercise in futility, but it was an opportunity to exercise faith in Jesus - and for Jesus to prove His divine power and grace.

Are you willing to exercise "nevertheless" obedience - to do something where there seems little to no chance of success based on past experience - just because Jesus told you to?  When we obey God's Word as led by the Holy Spirit, God graciously moves in wonderful and miraculous ways.  We are not called to "hope for the best" or to "try and try again" but to trust and obey Jesus.  Wine was needed, and when Jesus directed the servants to fill large pots with water his mother Mary wisely said, "Whatever He says, do it."  That water was miraculously changed into the finest wine.  Those servants had likely filled plenty of pots in their day, but being directed by Jesus made the difference.  What would He have you do today?