The Call
Scripture: Luke 5: 1-11 (ESV)
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him [Jesus] to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Devotion:
Today’s scripture is a bit longer than I usually use, but it is an important one to share. It is the story of the call of the fisherman Peter and his partners in the fishing business. Call stories abound in the scriptures. There is the dramatic call of Moses, Abraham, Isaiah, and Jerimiah in the Hebrew Scriptures. The story of the call of the 12 Apostles in the New Testament. These stories illustrate one kind of call. The call to full time service in God’s work of bringing his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
However, there is a sense in which all of us are called by Jesus to follow him. Whatever our job or profession might be God calls us to be his servants right where we are. God calls even retired folks to minister to various needs. In whatever state we are in we are called to be faithful and productive right where we are. As Peter and his fishing buddies found out, the Lord can do a mighty work even with reluctant followers. No matter what our occupation might be we are called to let God work through us for the benefit of the world.
In the scripture for today we read of Jesus directing Peter to go out and let down his nets for a catch. Peter gently rebukes Jesus saying that he and his partners had worked all night and caught nothing. Peter thinks he knows better than Jesus after all Peter is the fisherman and Jesus is just a teacher! Most of us think like Peter that Jesus is for spiritual things, for material things we know better than Jesus. Peter learns, however, that Jesus is more than a teacher he is Lord of all creation. Peter and his friends take a huge catch of fish. If we will let Jesus guide us in our daily routines, he will be with us.
What lesson can we take from this call story? Our lesson can be that we are all called by God to bring a foretaste of heaven wherever we are. We do not need to go to seminary and become a pastor to do God’s work. All we need to do is be available. Let our minds be open to God’s call and we can accomplish his will wherever we are. Let us pray that we may be useful to God and available to him.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty hear our prayer. Lord, help us to be available for your use in building your kingdom here on earth. Call us and send us into the world as your servants in kingdom work. Let your name be praised because of what we are able to accomplish for you here on earth. May all we do be for the praise and glory of your name. Let us be open to your prompting and guidance. Amen.
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