Because You Said So
I remember asking WHY my parents were telling me to do something when I was a kid and I got the answer: “Because I said so”. As I grew older, that was no longer good enough. I needed to understand the why. As a kid, I was ok with their answer. As a parent, I have worked really hard to NOT use that phrase. I have tried to explain my rationale as a parent so that my children could understand why I was telling them to not hang around that person or not to go to a certain place. The words: “Because I said so” seemed a bit like I was talking down to my children or putting them down. There are occasions when all that logic is out the window and as a parent we use words like “STOP”, “GO”, or “GET AWAY” and there’s not time for the explanation. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful to my children but there comes a time when they must trust that I’m thinking of what is best for them – period.
Jesus was teaching near the lake and the crowds were pressing in so he gets to the shore and hops in one of two boats that were there. He sits down and begins to teach from the boat in the lake. The boat belongs to Simon who will later be known as Peter. Check this out….
4 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.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:4-11 NIV)Peter wanted to debate the “fishing situation”, but it’s a good thing he didn’t. He had no idea exactly WHO Jesus was. I don’t always want to do the things I’m asked to do, but I most often consider whom it is asking. I love the fact that Peter did what Jesus asked because of Who was asking.
There’s a good lesson in here for me – when Jesus compels me to say something, do something or go somewhere – I would be wise to act because He said so. No debate – No questions…Just do what He asked!
Pressing On! Dwayne