Devotion • October 2
Today’s Scripture Reading
Luke 5:1–11
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. (NRSV)
Reflection
This is one of the best-known passages from the New Testament; however, in some respects, this familiarity makes drafting a meaningful devotion more, rather than less, difficult. The central meaning of this text is clear. Jesus is calling people to share his good news with others. It is the beginning of Christ’s body, the Church.
What strikes me about my reading of these words now are the reactions Simon and his fellow fishermen have to the call. In an all too human response to Jesus’ instruction to let down the nets, Simon’s response is “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” How often have we resisted trying something in a slightly new, or even the same old way, because it has not appeared to work in the past when we were not following Christ’s leading?
I am also struck by the immediate and completely positive response to Jesus’ definite instruction to become fishers of men. To use Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 13:12, they could only see what was happening around them “through a glass darkly.” They did not wait to see the ultimate result clearly before jumping in with both feet. I am reminded that the fishermen’s response is the model for me as our congregation reforms our response to God’s call.
As I see this next season in our lives of faith, we are best served by not being bound by our past. We need to honor our past and learn from our past successes and failures, but not let our past constrict our discernment.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please be with us as we enter another season of service to you and the Beloved Kingdom. Amen.
Written by Blake Anderson, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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