Michael Hyatt often shares a Donald Miller quote, in which Donald says: When we dive into the unknown, there are very real dangers, but mostly rewards.

And, this is exactly what Simon Peter and many others discovered when Simon followed Jesus’s simple instructions.

For the Biblical text tells us:

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:1-5 (NIV)

When you find yourself in deep water with Jesus, remember how you got there. Before Peter launched his ministry, he was in deep water. Before Simon, launched his ministry with his partners J&J sons of Zebedee. He was in deep water. Before Peter launched his ministry, he was working in deep water, with nothing more than empty nets.

They had been working all the night, when Jesus steps on the scene. They had been working all the night and were washing their nets, when Jesus saw the two ships standing at the waters edge. They had been working all the night and netted nothing, when Jesus steps on the scene.

They had been working all the night and netted nothing, when Jesus entered into the ship, which was Simon’s. They had been working all the night, when Jesus has a sit down in Simon’s ship.

They had been working all the night, when Jesus asked Simon to put out. They had been working all the night and were washing their nets, when Jesus sat down and taught the crowd of people from the ship.

They had been working all the night and netted nothing, when Jesus had finished speaking to the crowd, he spoke to Simon.

They had been working all the night, when Jesus had some private sidebar conversation with Simon.

They had been working all the night, when Jesus finished speaking to the crowd from the ship and spoke directly to Simon.

The text indicates in verse three, that Simon owned this ship. The text indicates in verse three, that Simon owned this particular vessel. The text indicates in verse three, that Simon owned this boat.

Because of this ownership, Simon was able to do what Jesus told him. Because of this ownership, Simon was able to move when Jesus commanded him. Because of this ownership, Simon was able to go where Jesus directed him. Because of his relationship Simon was able to move in the manner in which Jesus guided him.

Like I’ve said before, I just love the simple instructions our Jesus likes to give.

He told Simon what to do: Launch. He told Simon where to do it: Out into the deep. And he told Simon what he was to do next and what to expect: Let down your nets for a catch.

When you find yourself in deep water, remember how you got there. When you find yourself in deep water, remember who sent you there. When you find yourself in deep water, remember your blessing is not the catch. When you find yourself in deep water, remember to followed Jesus.

To be continue next week in Part 2 ...