God Provides the Increase By Thursa
I recently heard a study about the calling of the first disciples by Jesus in Luke 5:1-11, and it amazes me how alive the Word ALWAYS is! This is yet another passage that I’ve heard many times before, but it was wonderfully brought to a new meaning and level of understanding for me this time. I realized that just as Jesus called His first disciples and asked them to lay it all down and follow Him, He has also called all of us standing for marriage restoration to lay it all down and follow Him. In this passage of scripture, Jesus is saying “Go where I say, do what I say, and I will provide the increase!”
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a]with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down[b] the nets for a catch.”
5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So 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.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
In the first four verses, they were “washing nets,” which isn’t what nets are specifically intended and designed for. The disciples were tending to their nets to better prepare them for use, but weren’t using them as they should have been. And that’s when Jesus came and told them how to use them, giving them specific instructions to lower the nets into the deep waters. As standers, we were washing our nets of marriage. We weren’t using them specifically for what they are meant for, which is God’s glory. So Jesus came to us and now He is giving us specific instructions through God’s word about what marriage is truly intended to be and how we can bring God glory through our NEW marriages.
In verse 5, Simon told Jesus they had done all they could do to catch fish and had caught nothing. Simon was the fisherman and Jesus a carpenter, so Simon probably wondered why Jesus thought He knew better than him about how and where to fish. Yet, out of obedience to Jesus, Simon dropped the nets. In our marriages, we thought our way and plans to strengthen and grow our marriages were best and we thought we knew more than Jesus about our own marriages. So we relied on our own understanding and we were very wrong. But now, through our new found faith and obedience to God, we are putting aside what we “think” we know about our marriages and are beginning to follow God’s instructions from His Word concerning marriage. And we are finding that God knows far better than we could ever know, and that He is calling us to just have faith and to obediently follow Him.
In verses 6-7, we see that since Simon Peter acted in obedience and followed Jesus’ instructions, he received abundantly more than he could ever imagine. In the same way, when we follow God’s instructions for marriage, He will bring forth a marriage we didn’t even know was possible, and the blessings of that marriage will be better than we could ever imagine!!! God further confirms this awesome promise in 1 Corinthians 2:9. God rewards our obedient faith and provides the increase!!!
In verses 8-9, Simon Peter received the fish he was looking for in such abundance that he felt unworthy to receive the blessings. As we begin seeing the blessings we have sought for so long, we too feel unworthy and can’t believe it is truly happening. I nearly let the testimony of our marriage restoration slip by, because of that very thing! Praise God that He upheld me and showed me that I was worthy and that it was really happening and that I could claim it! God sees us and our spouses through His eyes of unconditional love, making any and all blessings He pours out to us fully worth receiving. But Satan would love to steal those joys, so it’s very important to continually Praise and thank God for each and every blessing. It’s our Praise that brings and shines His glory in us!!! And in verse 10, Jesus tells Simon Peter not to be afraid and implies He is going to use Simon Peter for God’s glory and to bring men to salvation. Likewise, as our blessings begin to come, we should NOT be afraid but rather receive them with Praise. Our restored marriages will be used as testimonies of God’s power and promise to heal other families and marriages. And with that, we can bring those other families to God and share His Glory with them.
Lastly, in verse 11, we see that the disciples leave everything and follow God’s instructions as He has told them of His plan and purpose for them. And our blessings will come to pass if we obediently follow God and surrender all to Him. He has already promised that His plan is better and it will bring Him glory, so we should just surrender and follow Him. When we step out in faith and obedience, looking to God for guidance, God promises we will not be put to shame!!! Psalm 34:5 says Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. So let us all lay it all down and follow God, He will provide all our increases!!!