Luke 5:4-11
4 When he [Jesus] 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.
Things that stand out in this passage:
- “We’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything, but because You say so, I will let down the nets.” Peter didn’t need to understand in order to obey. He told Jesus what was going through his mind, that he was uncertain why this would work now after an uneventful night, and he obeyed.
- “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees.” I picture him at Jesus’ knees, pleading with Him to turn away because his heart knew that he was not worthy of Jesus to even pay attention to him, yet wanting to hold on to Jesus because he knew Jesus loved him anyway.
- “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.” Left everything, without hesitation. Mark 1:20 says, “they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.” How often do we go through a laundry list of excuses or reasons why we can’t obey or follow Him because what He is saying doesn’t make sense? Even as we believe in Christ and give our lives to Him, the challenge to take up our cross daily and follow Him is real – to just get up each day, leave behind our selfish desires, and follow Him without hesitation.
We just celebrated Easter. Resurrection Sunday. He is risen indeed! Such depth to the believer’s celebration on this day as we embrace Christ’s willingness to die on the cross and take the punishment for our sins, then rise again so we can live with Him in heaven forever! And now, a couple days later, are we still embracing this truth in our lives, living it out every day so we can be ready to share with others the reason for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:125)? Or have we already become complacent?
Mirriam-Webster’s definition of complacent is “marked by self-satisfaction, especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies; unconcerned.” It’s like passing the same woman feeding the birds every day until we walk by and don’t even see her anymore, even though she’s still there.
The words from this song continue to go through my mind today:
Numb by Tait
“Are we sleeping at the wheel and unaware now
Has the population put us in a trance now
Overtaken by the tide and washed away now
What do you say now.
In a daze
Are we moving in the motion of the crowd now
Slowly losing everything we were about now
Is it time to draw a line in the sand now
And take a stand now …..
Are we numb
Is the feeling gone
Tell me what went wrong
Are we numb.
Close your eyes
Let the world pass by
Now you’re hypnotized
Are we numb.”
Dear Friend, let us not become complacent about our Savior and heavenly Father, and may we not quench the Spirit as He guides us. Jesus Christ undeservedly and willingly paid the ultimate price out of love – for you, for me, for all. And He is risen! He is risen indeed!