Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 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. 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.
I love this passage because it illustrates what God can do with our obedience. Peter was just sitting in his boat, working but catching nothing. Then Jesus entered the scene and transformed everything. However, it required Peter's obedience to follow what Jesus was asking him to do for the circumstances to change. Peter's obedience led to a miracle!
What's interesting is that Peter was obedient even when it didn’t make sense. Throwing the net again seemed pointless—he had been there for hours with no success! It reminds me of when we try to do things on our own, and it doesn’t work because God isn't present. We haven't invited Him to walk alongside us, so it feels like nothing is happening. But when God enters the scene, we must be ready to step into radical obedience — obedience that doesn't always make sense.
I can't help but think about the unfruitful areas in our lives that remain so because we haven't allowed Him in and haven't stepped out in radical obedience.
Peter was obedient even though he was afraid. The beautiful part is that Jesus looked beyond Peter's fears and still commissioned him to fish for His people. The Lord wants us to be honest about our fears and surrender them to Him! He can do so much more with our honesty and surrender than with our attempts to appear flawless.
Don't give up on seeking the Lord and being obedient to Him; in due time, you will reap a new season of spiritual growth.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.
Comments