LAUNCHING OUT

[Albert Finch]

Once Jesus had finished teaching, He turned to Peter and instructed him to first “launch out into the deep” and second, “let down your nets for a catch” (see Luke 5:4) . To this Peter replied, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net .”And when they did 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” (see Luke 5:5-7) .

 

As great as this “catch” was, it pales in comparison to how radically their lives would be transformed.

Verse 11 says, “So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him .”

 

The word “forsook” means to leave behind. In one day, they abandoned their way of life and everything familiar to them to pursue Him and the destiny for which they were created.
What had happened? What made the difference? When Peter was willing and obedient to do what the Lord asked, the harvest of what he had believed for came to him (see Isaiah 1:19). In that moment, his previous desires were replaced with a new desire.

In this place of undivided devotion to Him, He captures our hearts and like the disciples, we abandon everything to pursue Him wholeheartedly. It is in this place that we find Him.

 

Jeremiah 29:13 - "And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart."

 

Jesus’ invitation to Peter is still being given to us today.
Are you ready to leave the shore and become something more?

"Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all of Your waves and billows have gone over me" - (Psalm 42:7) .

 

Can you feel the depth of God’s heart calling to you in this season? Can you feel the depth of your spirit desiring Him more than your next breath? Launch out , and launch into Him. It is in this place that your wilderness becomes a fruitful field.