Meet Our Bishop - Bishop Errel N. Skyers
Launch Out Into the Deep
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Luke 5:4
When Jesus gave this divine explicit direction to Peter, Peter understood the command because he was a fisherman. However, he hesitated and rebutted, stating, “Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing.” (Luke 5:5)
But Jesus, the Master of the ocean, sea & fish, knew all about fish. Nevertheless, it seemed as if Jesus was doing things opposite to the natural order to suggest that they fish during the day. But remember, we are children of the day, so we have to work while it is day. “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (I Thes. 5:5)
Initially, when Jesus called his disciples, he told Peter to follow him. The purpose was not to remain a fisherman of fish, but a fisher of men. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt 4:19) Up until this moment, the purpose was shrouded; Peter and his companions did not see the big picture until later on - on the Day of Pentecost.
Today the Lord is calling us to take up the mantle and go out into the deep. He wants us to cast the gospel net into the sea of humanity to catch unregenerated men and women for him. Staying on the shoreline will be futile. We may feel very confident that we are fishing, but it will be unproductive. We must go into the deep, where it is often treacherous. Go into the deep waters of predicament where we have nowhere to stand and where the sea of adversity becomes very boisterous.