“Nevertheless”

 April 13, 2021

“We have toiled all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net.” —Luke 5:5

“Nevertheless, at your word...” The old maxim that doing the same thing will only give the same results is not always true. “At your word” changes everything. Three things are required.

1. Jesus must be Master. If I usurp that role, all bets are off. It’s not my place to make the rules or decide reality; I don’t get to choose which commands I will follow. Absolute surrender to Christs is absolutely necessary even if I cannot understand his ways. It is never enough to trust him only when things are going well; actually, trust isn’t necessary then.

2. I must be able to discern his word as opposed to all the other voices trying to garner our attention. There are many imposters, not only in this life, but also in the spiritual realm. The Enemy constantly whispers in our ear to worry, fear, doubt, retaliate. When life is dark, the whispering campaign starts, poisoning our hearts and minds. Recognizing Christ’s command—his word—is essential if I am to find success.

3. I must be willing to stand alone.”We” labored all night, but “I” will let down the net. The lyrics to the old song ring true: “Though none go with me, still I will follow.” The decision is mine: Is Jesus Master? Will I train myself in hearing his word? Will I follow even if no one else goes with me? Will I give up or cast my net one more time? One more time...