Nevertheless at Thy word

Luke 5:5

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.

Peter and his comrades had just had a rough night. They had toiled all the night, and had taken nothing! They had worked and worked and worked, and yet there was nothing to show for it. They were tired, they were weary, they were exhaustive from the strain of many hours of labor. They were seeking fish, but found none! No matter the effort or the method, they were powerless to pull in even one fish. They came up empty-handed time and again throughout the night. And here, when they are with Jesus, He tells them to launch out into the deep, and let down their nets. Launch out! Try again! Go again! Do the same thing you have been doing, but this time at My command! And Peter’s response was telling. He believed Jesus knew what was ahead, and could be trusted. “Master,” he said, “we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word.” At Thy word! We have been toiling and trying, and nothing has happened! We have sought every means of procuring fish, and nothing has worked! Yes, because You have told me to do so, “I will let down the net!” Despite all odds and circumstances to the contrary, simply because You have said to do it, I will do it!

And what a great response this is! Nevertheless at Thy word! I will obey because You have commanded me. It doesn’t matter if anything I have done to this point has been successful or not. I will still do it because You have said I should do it. Nevertheless at Thy word! Although I would not have done it otherwise, and I would have completely given up, I will let it down again in faith believing that obedience shall bring blessing. And how true this always is! Obedience brings blessing! Don’t look at the track record, and don’t measure success by apparent failure. If the Lord says to do it, do it again!

Now today, whatever the Lord is telling you to do—pray again, believe again, obey again, try again, witness again, or any other command—obey at once as Peter did! You have may toiled all the night. You may have taken nothing. But say with Peter of old, “Nevertheless at Thy word.” I will do again simply because You told me to do it, and I will believe You for the results. And then! And then! The ships are full of fish, so that they begin to sink! They must call over their helpers and partners to assist them in the harvest! Oh, my friends, if you’ll just obey again, the results may be beyond your imagination and expectation. And, with the disciples, you may be astonished beyond measure at the great draught of fish that will be taken. Obey today! And trust the Lord for all that He shall do through your obedience.

“Dear Father, sometimes obedience doesn’t look reasonable, because it is just a repetition of what we have already been doing. But remind us, Lord, that when You command us to do something, there is a reason that the command must be executed. So, this day, as You lead us, give us the courage to obey and trust You for the results. We obey! And we say, ‘Nevertheless, we shall do it again!’ In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”