Deep Water Faith

February 6

(Luke 5:4-5 NIV) ““When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." {5} Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.””

(James 1:22-25 NIV) “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.”

“Because I said so…” At some point, who hasn’t heard these words from a parent or grandparent? Jesus tells Peter to head out into the deep water, because He wants Peter to develop some deep water faith. We see that the would-be disciple has a mustard seed of faith, because he complies, even though the fishing has been very poor. He goes because Jesus said to go. Jesus wants to develop a deep water faith in us -- faith that sustains us in those times when we go through the deep waters of life -- faith that doesn’t fail when we can no longer touch bottom. But we must be willing to leave our comfort zones and head out into the deep water. Deep water faith can only be developed by being willing to push out into the deep waters of life. If we refuse to leave the shallows, we will remain shallow Christians. Deep faith requires deep water. Are you willing to go there? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day