Luke 5 NLT
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!… When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. (4-11)
If you haven’t watched any of “The Chosen” series, I highly recommend it. One of the tag lines in that series is Jesus answering someone who says “This is different,” by saying “Get used to different!” I love that phrase, “get used to different.” We get so caught up in the way we think things should be and in the way that we have always done things, that when God breaks into our lives and does a new thing we are unable to recognize it. Peter and his colleagues fished all night and they did things the way they had always done them and came up empty. Jesus tells them to go out deeper than usual and fish in the day time; things which they typically didn’t do. They trusted Him and obeyed Him and it paid off.
They didn’t catch that huge catch of fish because they tried a new strategy, they were successful because now Jesus was in the equation. They did His bidding in His way and that always leads to success. Jesus could inspire confidence in people that caused them to step out of the rut and do something different. They were so struck by what they witnessed in the boats, that when He called them to follow and fish for men they left all (even the catch of fish) and followed Him. I am not suggesting that we simply try different methods of fishing if we are unsuccessful for a time. The purpose of that catch of fish was not just so they could catch more fish and feed their families. Jesus had bigger things in mind.
He has bigger things in mind for us too, but we won’t see that unless we are willing to “get used to different.” Listening to the voice of God is crucial, but stepping out in obedience once we hear His call is even more important; even if it’s uncomfortable. We tend to think we know what He will say or want before He says it and so when He suddenly calls us to go a different way or do a new thing we are unprepared and miss His purpose for our lives. They say the definition of insanity is “continuing to do the same thing you have always done but expecting different results.” If you have been doing the same thing over and over and adopting the same attitudes but you keep coming up empty, perhaps it’s time to listen again to the master and make sure you are truly following His voice and not just what you “think” He said.
