In the first century, particularly from a Jewish perspective, the sea was viewed with profound fear, awe and as a potent symbol of chaos, evil and uncontrollable power. Andrew and his partners set sail on the Sea of Galilee on a daily basis for fishing was their livelihood. This place regarded as a menacing force, a place of danger and an abyss inhabited by Leviathan is where Jesus came looking for those four men who would receive more, exceedingly, abundantly above all they could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
After working hard all night and returning with empty nets, Jesus instructed those seasoned fishermen to put out into deep water. They considered the Lord’s directive and because they followed the guidance of God’s Word two of their boats were so full of fish they almost sank. These men who worked so hard to manage the challenges and dangers of the sea, honored Jesus as Master, as Preeminent, as Supreme by humbling themselves to do what was asked of them.
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Good News! Come now, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,” Matthew 1:14. So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed the Lord (Luke 5:10) on a more excellent way pursuing no amount of money could procure: love, righteousness, peace, faith, endurance, gentleness so too know how great the gain of godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6).
Yes, the Lord will refine and test our faith and trust for Him in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10), for what else can He do when our tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows, when our words seem friendly but the schemes of our heart (Jeremiah 9:8) are to steal, to destroy and to kill exalting evil (John 10:10). How I pray accountability and gratitude would become familiar and well-oiled weapons in our arsenal. For the Lord does test us and refine us like silver for He desires to bring us to a place of abundance. He desires to free us from the prison of sin and depression and lack, hopelessness and desperation. He desires to remove the burdens that slavery to sin places on our backs – guilt and sorrow, shame and regret. He desires to make us ride on the high places of the earth and feed us with our rightful heritage as children of God so we can delight ourselves in the Lord, in God’s Word of Truth (Isaiah 58:14).
As the Living Bible translation of second Corinthians 1:19 says: Jesus isn’t one to say yes when He means no. He always does exactly what He says, He carries out and fulfills all of God’s promises, no matter how many of them there are. We have told everyone how faithful He is, giving glory to His name. For it is God Who has made you and me into faithful Christians and commissions us to share His Good News. He has put His brand upon us – His mark of ownership – and given us His Holy Spirit in our heart as guarantee we belong to Him and as the first installment of all that He is going to give us.
So dearly beloved by the Lord, do not throw away your confidence, your fully persuaded heart that knows, that it knows, that it just knows God will do all that He promises, for your confidence in Him and His Word will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised (Hebrews 10:35). “Since you have kept My command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth,”
Revelation 3:10.
Father, consider our threats
And enable Your servants to speak Your Word
With great boldness.
Stretch out Your hand, Father, to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy and precious
Servant Jesus
Acts 4:29