Going Out Into the Deep

I like shallow water.  Shallow water is safe.  The shallow water invites you to float and splash happily along.  Your feet effortlessly touch security as they firmly rest on the bottom.  Minimal exertion is involved.
Shallow water is.....comfortable.

But.....what if God is calling you to deeper waters?

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon (Peter), "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 

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.
So they signaled 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.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken.....

And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." 

So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.  Luke 5:4-11

This is Simon Peter's first encounter with Jesus.  He was a fisherman.  What did he do?  He fished.  He was a professional fisherman with his own fishing company.  Here comes this preacher who gets into one of Peter's boats and asks him to go a little out from shore so He could preach to the people on shore.

Are you getting the picture here?  Peter didn't know Jesus, he knew fish.  Peter had been fishing all night and didn't catch anything.  He was probably tired since he'd been up all night.  He probably wanted to go lay down, but felt compelled to help this preacher out by letting him use his boat.  Then, this preacher started to talk to him about fishing!  What does a preacher know about fishing?!  Yet, again, he listened to Him.

 He went out into the deep.   What happened when he went out into the deep?  He caught more fish than ever!  The Lord blessed him.  And because he obeyed and went out into the deep, the Lord declared that he would be a fisher of men.

Peter saw the Lord when he went out into the deep.  He saw a glimpse of the miracle working power available that left him wanting to throw away his world colored glasses into the ocean.  His encounter with the Lord motivated him to substitute his life of empty nets of fish for full nets of men. 

Even though shallow water is comfortable, I don't want to stay in the shallow water.  I want to go out into the deep with my Lord.  I want to see His miracle working power.  I want all to be astonished by all the Lord has done and is doing.  I want to catch men.

I always knew there would come a time when the Lord would want me to post my testimony.  I never felt the time was right until the other day. 

Thursday night was Hope Resource Center's fundraising event.  Hope Resource Center is a local Christian crisis pregnancy center.  (Great ministry!! If you want to donate, click above to find out how.)  Pam Tebow was the guest speaker.  During her powerful and moving testimony, I heard God say,  It is time.

It is time to share my story.  It is time to see nets full of the glory of God, and changed lives. 

It is time to go out into the deep.  Is God calling you deeper?