When (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.–Luke 5:4-11
I love Simon (Peter, the original “The Rock”). It seems as if we have a lot in common. Namely, that we come into most situations MOUTH FIRST; Here is Jesus, a skilled CARPENTER telling the seasoned FISHERMAN where and when to do his job. To me, it sounds like Peter says something to the effect of, “Yeah, well, WE have been working ALL NIGHT, but sure, we’ll follow Your advice, Mr. T-Square.” I think a lot of times, Peter responds out of either brash pride or nervous anxiety. (see the part where Peter wants to make tabernacles for a couple of Old Testament apparitions instead of just quietly observing the earth-shattering occurrence.)
When confronted by blessing, unmerited favor, and the miraculous, I think most folks who struggle with Pride (“WE worked hard all night”) and Inadequacy (“and caught nothing”) answer with the same thoughts, if not the same words that Peter pronounced:
“Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
Grace in its raw beauty is best accepted with the kind of humility that isn’t focused on what WE LACK, but on what GOD GIVES: Wisdom (“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for catch:) Power and Miracles (the fish filled both of the boats) Confidence (“Do not fear”) and Purpose (“from now on you will be catching men.”)
When amazement and wonder seizes us, let’s take our “boats to land”, (our pride and everything we thought WE could do in our own strength) leave “everything” (our unrelenting focus on our sin and inadequacy) and follow Him. (the giver of every good thing and every perfect gift).
“ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”– James 1:17
–Blessings Without Measure–Betty W McNeely