Because you say so…
“Why do I have to pick up all the toys?”
“Why do I have to put my phone away at dinner?”
“Why do I have to be home at 9:00 p.m. when all my friends get to stay out until 11:00?”
Ever ask your parents similar questions? Ever been bombarded by such questions by your own children?
Do you sometimes answer– “Because I said so!”
Jesus was near the Sea of Galilee when He first began calling His disciples.
He got into one of the fishing boats belonging to Simon and directed him to move away from the shore. Jesus sat on the boat and taught the people.
When he finished speaking he said to Simon. “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4
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.” Luke 5:5
Because you say so…
We’ve probably heard our parents say, “Because I say so” when we questioned a directive. Chances are, we might have said the same thing to our children. We or our children might have answered grudgingly (as did Simon).
Because you say so…
What happened next?
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:6-8
Simon Peter and the other disciples were amazed at the number of fish and very aware of the blessing they had received. But, Simon was terrified!
Jesus had the answer to Simon’s fear…
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Luke 5:10b
Sometimes parents request (tell) their children to do things that they don’t want to do. If we are parents, we’ve probably felt the brunt of our children’s dissatisfaction when we’ve asked them to do an undesired task.
But, what about when Jesus calls us? Has He asked you to do a task that you resisted? Have you argued with our Lord when you didn’t want to do something? How did that work out for you?
Like Simon Peter, we may grudgingly agree. We may grumble, argue, or run in the opposite direction. But, when we respond in the affirmative, the blessings are often beyond our wildest dreams.
Can you share a time when you followed God’s call (albeit “kicking and screaming”) and He blessed your response?
I won’t tell you that following Jesus is always going to be easy. Peter, along with most of the other disciples, risked everything to be a disciple of Jesus–ridicule, persecution, and death was their fate.
Thankfully, we are blessed to live in a country where we are free to worship our Lord without the fear of death, but we are likely to face ridicule or rejection. If you have answered God’s call to be “fishers for people”, I pray that you are blessed on your journey.
Over the past 9 months, becoming a caregiver for my in laws, I have not always wanted to do the tasks at hand. Some days I just wanted to go back to our “normal”. Many days I did what I had to do and did it willingly. When opposition came from some family members…. I wanted to QUIT. But I could not. Some days I did it “kicking & crying out to God”, but other days I did it because it was what I “got” to do. God called my husband and I to a new mission field. Easy? NO! But necessary. Watching my mil fight a tough fight for months and months, we fought right along with her. God called her home and things changed again. And here we are in our next mission, to care for my fil. Not an easy task. But God….. His plan. His purpose. Will everyday be a blessing? No, probably not. But we know that God has us here in this place for a reason. In the past couple of weeks we realized that during those long hard months, He was preparing us for what we are doing now. Navigating a “new” normal, for our family and loving and helping my fil who misses his wife with all that is in him.
Thanks for this post!!
Oh, my sweet friend–your message brought back memories of caring for my parents before they went to be with Jesus. It’s hard! But, we know that He is with us through these trials and carries us when the burden gets too overwhelming. Praying for you.
A beautifully written and relatable devotion. It calls us to respond in obedience!
Thank you for your encouraging words. Sometimes, that obedient response is SO hard, but it’s wonderful that God is with us through that struggle and loves and blesses us beyond measure.
Years ago, I think myself more Jonah than James, as I would choose to try and escape doing the hard things God was calling me to do. Things like giving up vices, surrendering sinful ways, and giving up my control for His yoke. I look back upon those moments know and recognize how much easier it would have been to have simply surrendered my will for His. I thank God daily for His patience with me when I was a less than willing follower.
I’ve had lots of those “Jonah” experiences, too. And, when–like Jonah–I finally became obedient, I might be kicking, screaming, and whining. I’m so thankful for God’s patience and mercy.
I have definitely done things because He said so…like train and compete in an Ironman triathlon. It transformed my life completely! Therefore, I trust where He tells me to go.
Thank you for sharing how God has blessed you through some challenges that would be too hard for most of us. Our God is an awesome God! Praying for you on this next adventure–You Go Girl!