Luke 5:1 – And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

Luke 5:2 – And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

Luke 5:3 – And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Luke 5:4 – Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Hello readers, hope you’ve had a great week. We are fast coming to the end of another year. This year has been an interesting one to say the least. I was reading this part of the gospel of the Luke and I noticed three phrases. They are “standing by the lake”, “thrust out a little from the land” and “launch out into the deep”.

I’ve done a blog on launch out into the deep before, and I believe that command from Jesus Christ is a vital one that still is very relevant to us today. But many people never get out into the deep. They don’t want to go out of their depth following Jesus Christ. And that’s also why they never see the big catch nor see the power of God nor really get to know who Jesus Christ is personally in their own lives.

There were many people “by the lake”, who never boarded the ship, who watched from the shoreline while the boat thrust out a little, and then went way out into the deep beyond their view. Many people will never get in the boat. They might hear, but that’s all it will be, hearing, but no faith, no belief, and no thrusting out from land, even just a little. They won’t get saved, and even if they are, they won’t truly launch out with Jesus Christ by faith in their life.

Some people get out just a little from the land. Maybe this year you have been out just a little from the land. Hey, at least you’re in the boat if that’s the case. And before you will ever get out into the deep, you must take faith’s baby steps and just thrust out a little from the land. It may seem scary following God, but really it isn’t. He is in the boat with you, if you have boarded the boat he’s on.

Which are you today? Are you standing by the lake? You’re not moving forward in faith. Your life is at a standstill. Are you watching others stand for truth and righteousness? Are you hearing about others leading people to the Lord? Are you a viewer, or are you a doer? Are you in the game, or are you watching the game? Not that it’s a game, but hopefully you get the point. Maybe some were right at the edge of the lake, and maybe you’re on the edge of getting saved and climbing aboard… but you’re not quite there yet and you’re not in.

I have always loved the picture of the lessons Jesus Christ taught relating to the disciples trade of fishing. I love the picture of them being out on the open water with Jesus Christ, sailing the sea, catching the big fish, learning about faith, and even coming through ferocious storms. It was across a lake that they would go to see the marvellous deliverance of a man possessed with many devils. It was out on the lake they would truly realize who Jesus Christ was, it was out on the lake they found out yes he really did care, and yes he really was able to fill their nets. Do you want a fulfilled and full life? You’re going to have to get in the boat and push off from land, push off from that past life and that past crowd who are never going to get in.

You can be by the lake, or you can get in the boat, get saved and start obeying Jesus Christ in your life. And that will separate you from the multitude who ain’t. There were many people at the shoreline, but not many people in the boat, and not many thrusting out even a little from the land. Imagine being on the shoreline and seeing Jesus Christ getting smaller and smaller in the distance and imagine seeing that life you could have of faith and walking as a Christian disappearing on you all because you do not have the faith to hop in for the ride.

I’ve thrusted out a little from the land before. Telling someone the gospel is thrusting out a little. But I haven’t got too far out in the deep. There is plenty of deep out there I have not been. I put my depth gauge out and said Lord that is far enough. I turned around and went back to the shore before I ever got the deep waters and where the big catch really was. Do you want to go even further? Will you launch out into the deep? Will you go out of your own depth with the Lord? I don’t know what “stage” you are at, but the people who truly got blessed were those out in the deep with Jesus Christ. That’s where he was, and that’s who he will be with.

The Lord Jesus Christ is out in the deep with those who are going out into the deep with him. God’s business is in salvation of souls, the biggest catch of all. That’s God’s business and that’s where he is out there working. Will you join him? See, if you’re on the shoreline he is out of sight, and you’re missing out, and you can’t and won’t even see what he’s doing… but out in the deep you’re firsthand experiencing his power and seeing his glory. Many people never have the revelation of Christ unto themselves because they are never going to launch out in a life with Jesus Christ. That’s just the truth of it.

If you start obeying Jesus Christ, you will get to know him like you just can’t if you’re just doing your own thing in life. God reveals himself to those who trust and obey him, who launch out with him. Until you launch out, you won’t have the full net experience, you won’t experience the power of God, you won’t truly grow as Christian. Maybe today for you, you can  thrust out just a little from land. Take a little step forward, get saved, maybe just tell one person the gospel this week. Show mercy to someone, fight for righteousness, give someone a Bible verse… I don’t know, but even a little is much when God is in it.

The deep isn’t where mighty intellectuals are… it was plain old fishermen out there. The only requirement is simple faith, because the journey is one of faith in the words of the Lord Jesus. The deep may seem beyond you, and even the fishermen knew how to fish all night and catch nothing… but with God, the deep is a place of a full net life. Christianity is about the catch, and catching men is the greatest thing you can do this side of eternity. May God help us to get in the boat and just simply trust him on our great voyage of life.

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