It Only Takes a Moment to Change Your Life

 A Series on Lent
 (Use the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 5:1-11

[Lent gives us an opportunity to step back and pause to recognize our humanity and sinful nature. The Lenten season reminds us of our need for a Savior as a time to reflect and repent for our shortcomings. It is an opportunity to recognize the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from and bring our need for a Savior to the forefront. Lent prepares us as we approach Good Friday and Easter with thanksgiving for the grace and mercy shown to us.]

  

It only takes a moment to change your life. For me, one of those life-changing moments occurred in high school when I was in the process of deciding what college to attend. When I told the guidance counselor that I wanted to be a geologist, he said, in no uncertain terms, “Well then, you need to go to Michigan Tech”. So I did.

 

Peter had one of those moments too. His occurred while he was at his job. After fishing all night, he was cleaning the nets. Nearby, Jesus was speaking to a crowd so large that he asked Peter to take his boat out in the water again so that he could speak from his boat in order to be heard by all the people.

 

When he was finished, Jesus asked Peter to go out to the deep water to fish again, even though they hadn’t caught anything the night before. But, because it was Jesus who asked, Peter did it. Here’s what happened after Peter caught so many fish that two boats could barely bring them to shore.

 

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.                        NIV

 

You would be hard pressed to convince me that Peter was a touchy-feely kind of guy; somebody who was introspective or easily impressed. No, not at all. He was a take charge kind of guy who acted first, and then thought about it later… maybe.

 

But, what was the impact of that brief moment between Jesus and Peter? How did it change Peter’s life?

 

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.      NIV

 

Lent is a time for drawing close to our Lord. Sometimes that can happen by fasting and prayer. But sometimes it happens in a less conventional manner… like at work fishing. The Lord is not limited by how or where He speaks to us. It could be through a life experience; a book; a movie; a friend. All we need to do is listen.

 

After all, it only takes a moment to change your life.