Columnist: Minister Deborah E. Nyamekye

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught”. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake” (Luke 5: 4-5 KJV).

Simon (also known as Peter) and his partners were washing their nets, they had toiled all night and caught nothing. Jesus Christ who Simon had made a part of his life accepting him as his “Rabbi” or teacher, needed the use of Simon’s boat for his teaching ministry that day. So Jesus got into Simon’s boat and was sitting in it in the lake not too far from the shore and teaching the crowd. Having used Simon’s boat to teach the crowd, Jesus then had a plan to bless Simon, James and John. He started by asking Simon to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught”.

Note that Jesus did not merely say launch out into the lake, but in the deeper most part of it is what he was instructing Simon to do. Simon and the other fishermen had toiled all night and they had caught nothing not even in the shallow waters, and Jesus was saying “Launch out into the deep!”, but Simon obeyed Jesus saying “nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net”. Brethren, when you welcome Jesus in your life “Boat” and allow him to orchestrate your life for the sake of others it means God has a plan for your life that would surprise you, He will do something for you that you least expect; there is a great miracle awaiting you in areas of your life where you lack as Simon and his fishing partners James and John found out.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt.6:33 KJV). When you say “nevertheless at thy word” to the LORD, not looking at things with your natural eyes, but your spiritual eyes of faith, if the company you keep also have Jesus in their life “boat”, as Simon did, they will surely partake of your blessed life in Christ as you will theirs. It is inevitable that when God provides for you miraculously in your areas of need, they too will benefit from it and you will also benefit when they receive the same.

This is because it is God’s will that His people are one and live together as a family of God. Jesus prayed for God’s people to be one (John 17:19-21). “…Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 KJV) What do you have in common with your closest friends? It is the unity through Christ that creates a ripple effect of blessings. Dear brothers and sisters, this account ought to encourage you that God is always looking for ways to bless His children as only a heavenly Father can do.

He knows how you have made Him the captain of your life “boat” through Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour and so He knows your needs, where you lack and how much you carry on working and toiling for Him, saying daily “nevertheless at thy word” even when he sends you into those “deep” places where an outcome of success seems more impossible.

My message to you today is that He always hears your surrendered response and sees your activation of faith in obedience and whenever you are weak He extends His hand to help you and strengthens you with His powerful Holy Spirit.

If you are already seeing the fruit of your labour, I praise God with you and encourage you to keep on keeping on. If you have not yet, I also praise God with you, because God is working on it, delay is not denial and His timing is perfect. You are blessed, determine to stay blessed. Deborah Esther

©DEN 2/12/2015