shore line
"When He had finished speaking He said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water.' " —Luke 5:4
Jesus told Simon: "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." First, however, He told Simon "to pull out a short distance from the shore" (Lk 5:3). There He taught the crowd the word of God (Lk 5:1ff). We need to hear God's word in the teachings of the Church and the Bible before we "put out into deep water." Otherwise, we would "be in over our heads" in our vocations, families, ministries, and jobs.
Without knowing God's word, we will not know Christ. St. Jerome taught: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." Without knowing Christ, why would we obey Christ when He tells us to do what we don't understand and don't feel like doing?
Even if we did put out into deep water, without the light of God's word we would put out into the wrong deep water. Because we have not meditated day and night on God's word, we would not be successful (Ps 1:2-3).
The Lord wants His people to be bold, to take risks, and to do great works for His glory. However, this assumes that we are abiding in His word (see Jn 8:31). Then, when we put out into the deep water, we will lead the world to Christ.
Prayer: Father, may my life and decisions be founded on hearing and doing Your word (Mt 7:24).
Promise: "Ever since we heard this we have been praying for you unceasingly and asking that you may attain full knowledge of His will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight." —Col 1:9
Praise: Warren, a taxi driver, prays with those whom he drives and tells them about Jesus. He has seen Jesus heal several of them through his prayers.
Reference: (Pray about ordering some or all of our Simple Reading Guides to the entire Bible which can help you abide in God's word.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 1, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 4, 1997