Today’s devotion is based on Week 2 of “Tough Love”: Challenges Perspective! (WATCH HERE)
It’s hard to see another perspective.
Ask any experienced fisherman on the Sea of Galilee and he would have said, “Jesus is not the one you want giving you fishing advice.”
Throwing your nets into deep water was not the optimal or preferred setting for a successful fishing outing.
But that’s what Jesus told Simon Peter to do.
Peter’s perspective was this. They fished all night and caught nothing. It was time to clean the nets and go home.
When your experience tells you something, it’s hard to see someone else’s perspective.
How many times have you heard the phrase, “We already tried that. It didn’t work.”
Our perspective is built on our personal experiences and when those personal experiences have resulted the same each time, it’s hard to do the same thing or something slightly different and expect different results.
Sometimes our perspective prevents us from experiencing a different result.
If Peter would have objected AND stayed on the shore, he would not have experienced what happened next.
There was one thing that changed his perspective.
Jesus.
Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
“Because you say so…”
This powerful statement of faith moves us from a perspective that is governed by human limitations to one that is open to see what the power of God can do.
Having no idea if they would catch anything, Peter trusted the words of Jesus and let down his nets. The result was two boats on the brink of sinking because the catch was so large.
Jesus taught his Word. Now he demonstrated the power of his Word.
Jesus wanted his disciples to move beyond the perspective of their human limitations to the power of Jesus’ words and the impact of his promises.
What if we did the same?
When we are hesitant for whatever reason to trust and live out the promises of God, we must set aside our human perspective and see God’s power and promises. Our ineffective excuses that keep us limited by our abilities must be set aside to see the power of God at work in our hearts and lives. Our perspective must shift from seeing life only from our ability to do something to the power of God that is at work in his promises.
Here’s how the Apostle Paul saw things:
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
It is hard to see things from another perspective, but when that perspective starts with a Word from Jesus, maybe all we need to trust is “because he said so” he is going to show me a new perspective that brings great blessing.
Apply: What promise of God is hard for you to belief and act on because your personal experience has been completely different?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to live life from your perspective simply “because you say so.” AMEN.