Thank You, Father, for the wonderful time we had with Massey being home. It was longer than we had hoped but far shorter than we would have liked, of course. Please be with him as he embarks on the final push, in the up and coming months, to complete all the many hours of work for his doctorate. Amen.
Luke 5:8-11 (<<click to read the passage)
How often do we struggle with catching something that is very important the first time we encounter it? Sometimes we need a wake-up call to get us moving in the right direction. The miraculous catch of fish was Peter’s – and for that matter Andrew (his brother), as well as, their fishing partners, James, and John – it was their wake-up call.
This is the only occurrence mentioned in Luke’s Gospel but Matthew (4:18-22), Mark (1:16-20), and John (1:37) mention first encounters with Jesus. They were called to follow Him and for whatever reason went back to fishing. But remember Jesus knows each and every one of us intimately. He knows where all of our strengths and weaknesses lie and because of all of that, He knows best for us.
One online comment I read was, “Having been with Jesus, Peter was impressed, but not committed. He apparently did not think he was made of the ‘right stuff’ to be a ‘holy man’. But obviously, as history and God’s word records, Jesus knew better.
As I pursued Peter’s calling, I read a few things online and came across some thoughts on the matter by the great 19th century “Prince of Preachers”, Charles Spurgeon.
In essence, Peter’s journey in his following of Jesus began with his being called out of darkness into marvelous light. Next, he was called to not just believe but to draw closer to Jesus and because of that closeness to take action on his belief in Him. Then lastly, Peter was challenged to draw yet closer to Jesus and to take upon himself the special work he was chosen to complete.
Jesus knew Peter. He was a rough fisherman but through Jesus’ love and attention Peter became the rock (which is what Peter means in Greek) of the Church that was to come.
None of us…let me repeat that, none of us – not one person who calls themselves a follower of Jesus – is beyond being used of Jesus to impact the world in marvelous and miraculous ways.
Jesus knows me. Jesus knows you! We are not Peter. We are who God made us to be. We are not all preachers or Bible teachers but again we are who God made us to be. We may not be called to impact 1,000s but we can impact one here…one there…and little by little we become instruments used of God to impact the world in marvelous and miraculous ways!
Jan 13th, 2020, Mon, 7:37 pm
