Luke 5:1-11
(Use the link below to
read the verses.)
Coach
Steward was a big man. He stood about 6 feet 8 inches and probably weighed
close to 300 pounds. He was an assistant coach for my high school football team
– the St. Louis Sharks of St. Louis, Michigan – the Middle of the Mitten.
It
was half time of a game that we were obviously losing. First the head coach
yelled at us. Then it was Coach Steward’s turn.
We
sat silently with our eyes fully focused on him as he held a clip board in one
hand and began. As he paced the floor, his volume increased. He began to beat
on the clipboard with his other hand. When his tirade had reached its climax,
he pounded on the clipboard one final time, breaking it in half.
Coach
Steward had our attention and we were ready to go into battle; to walk through
walls for him; to do the impossible. He had called us to action, and we
responded.
In
Luke 5, even though it made no sense, Jesus called Peter to go back out and
throw his nets into the deep water. It was a ridiculous request. Peter was the
experienced fisherman. He’d been out all night working hard. Jesus was a
carpenter and an itinerant preacher. He didn’t know anything about fishing. But
Jesus had called Peter
to action, and Peter responded.
This
was not the first time Peter had interacted with Jesus, and it wouldn’t be the
last. John 21 describes a strikingly similar story.
Without
their Lord, following his death and resurrection, Peter and a few other disciples
fished all night in the Sea of Galilee, once again, without catching anything.
Jesus appeared on the shore and told them to cast their nets one more time.
They did, and the net was filled with “153
large fish”.
Following
breakfast on the beach, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me”. We
know that Peter was hard headed. He lived by the premise of “ready, fire, aim”.
He didn’t always think before acting. But the Lord saw something special in
Peter. He saw a man who could lead others while following him. That morning, Jesus
once again called Peter to action, and he responded.
I
think that the Lord is still working in your life and mine in the same way as
he did with Peter. He keeps showing up in our lives; he keeps speaking to us; he
keeps pursuing us; he keeps calling us to action.
What
has Jesus called you to do? What desire has he given you? What sermon have you
heard, or book have you read, where he has spoken to you? Listen closely for
his still small voice. Don’t miss it; don’t make excuses; don’t rule it out
because it doesn’t make any sense. Just follow him wherever he leads you.
(If
God has spoken to you through this blog, please feel free to share it with
others.)
