Luke 5:1-11
Suggested further reading: Isaiah 6:1-8
Being in God’s presence humbles us by making us painfully aware of our sinfulness—so Peter learns here when the miraculous catch of fish reveals to him God’s presence in their boat in the person of Jesus.
At the time Peter speaks he was, at best, a babe in grace, one weak in faith, and ignorant of many things. Later he would be spiritually mature enough to ask the Lord to abide with him and not to depart. But still Peter’s words express the feelings of anyone conscious of being in God’s presence. Such is the experience of the prophet Isaiah, Adam and Eve after their sin, and the nation Israel itself in Exodus 20.
Let us resolve and work toward knowing more, every year we live, of our need of a mediator between ourselves and God. Without such a mediator, we, like Peter, cannot think comforting thoughts about God, nor feel comfortable in His presence. Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is exactly the Mediator we need. Those outside of Christ find God to be a consuming fire. Those who are in Christ, by believing in Him, find God to be a reconciled Father.
Jesus gives to the disciples in the boat words that apply to all believers: a comforting word (“fear not”) and a new occupation with an amazing promise (“you shall catch men”). Christ calms our hearts and commissions us to a work. Every believer needs both the comfort and the promise to carry out their new work because catching men for the Master is sometimes discouraging and even dangerous.
Let us never forget what He has made of us (fishermen) and told us to do (catch others for Him). This will give our lives eternal value as He uses us to bring others into His presence, here on earth (in worship) and at last in His coming Kingdom. Let’s go fish!
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
