Luke 5:1-7
The Miracle Catch of Fish
5 On one occasion, Jesus was preaching to the crowds on the shore of Lake Galilee. There was a vast multitude of people pushing to get close to Jesus to hear the word of God. 2 He noticed two fishing boats at the water’s edge, with the fishermen nearby, rinsing their nets. 3 Jesus climbed into the boat belonging to Simon Peter and asked him, “Let me use your boat. Push it off a short distance away from the shore so I can speak to the crowds.”
4 Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished, he said to Peter, “Now row out to deep water to cast your nets and you will have a great catch.”
5 “Master,” Peter replied, “we’ve just come back from fishing all night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you insist, we’ll go out again and let down our nets because of your word.”
6 When they pulled up their nets, they were shocked to see a huge catch of fish, so much that their nets were ready to burst! 7 They waved to their business partners in the other boat for help. They ended up completely filling both boats with fish until their boats began to sink!
In our passage today, Peter has to get beyond his own understanding and perspective in order to respond to Jesus’ request; Peter has to obey if he is going to receive grace. As Creator of heaven and earth, Jesus came to reveal the miracles coming to those willing to be born from above and filled with the Spirit of Holiness. We have a responsibility and an obligation to love and obey the One who brings us eternal life. Like Peter, when we are willing to obey and do the things Jesus asks of us, it opens us up to receive his blessings and promises, too.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson, today. Help me to be willing to head into deeper water in order to catch those blessings you have in store for me. I want to catch people in the net of your gospel and help them see you and experience your beautiful love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.