December 19, 2021
If You Say So
Luke tells about a time when Jesus was standing by the
lake teaching the word God to a crowd of people who were eagerly listening. At
the water’s edge were two boats left there by fishermen who were washing their
nets. One of the boats belonged to Simon. Jesus got in it and asked Simon Peter
to move it out a little from the shore. Then Jesus began teaching the people
from the boat.
When
Jesus had finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper,
and let down your nets to catch some fish.” Simon’s response is somewhat
surprising. He and his friends had fished all night and caught nothing. They
were tired and disappointed. But instead of rebuffing Jesus, Simon replied,
“Master, we worked hard all night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so,
I’ll let the nets down again.” And when they did, they caught so many fish
their nets began to break, and the boat was soon so full of fish that it began
to sink.
In that story the phrase, “if
you say so,” catches my attention. Long ago I began to realize that my maturity
as a Christian depended upon doing what Jesus says do. He made that clear when
he said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
I must confess that I am a bit
like Simon when I consider some of the things Jesus said to do. Simon showed no
enthusiasm about letting the nets down again. And I find myself responding to
Jesus much like Simon did, “I’m not sure about that Lord, but if you say so, I
will do it.”
There have been situations when
it seemed impossible not to worry. But I heard Jesus saying, “Walter, do not
worry; seek first my kingdom and my righteousness and I will provide all the
things you need.” That’s when I said, “If you say so, Lord.” And repeatedly, He
has kept His promise.
The demands of Jesus are not
easy to meet. For example, when he says, “Rejoice and be glad when people
insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you,” again
I find myself saying, “If you say so, Lord.” And I have the same response when
Jesus says, “If you expect your heavenly Father to forgive your sins, you must
forgive those who sin against you.” I know better than to say, “But Lord, you
don’t understand!” So I muster up the strength to say
again, “If you say so, Lord.”
Like most people I am fond of
earth’s treasures. I like nice clothes, a nice car, nice books, a comfortable
recliner and things that remind me of my Auburn connection, so I wince when
Jesus says, “Walter, do not store up treasures on earth but store up treasures
in heaven.” But since He has taught me that true life is not found in material
possessions, I am able to say, “If you say so, Lord.”
Simon was amazed at what
happened when he put aside his disappointment and said, “If you say so, Lord.”
And like Simon, I too am constantly thrilled by what Jesus does when I do my
best to do what He says do. Though I am sometimes staggered by the tough things
Jesus says do, I know my best response is to stop doubting, and just do it!
Because He said so! + + +