5 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. ² He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” ⁶ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! ⁷ A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

⁸ When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” ⁹ For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. ¹⁰ His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” ¹¹ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Luke 5:1-11

Dear God, I love Peter’s initial response to Jesus’s miracle in verse 8: “Oh, Lord, please leave me–I’m such a sinful man.”

I wonder if I were to give Peter truth serum that day and ask him what he considered to be the sins in his life, what he would say. Did he consider himself sinful because he hung out with other fishermen and there was bawdy talk among them? Was he not great about keeping Jewish customs? I doubt it was this one because we know he was particular about only eating kosher things his entire life up until the Cornelius story. But it might have been. Maybe he had been with prostitutes. Maybe he cheated on his taxes. Whatever it was, he thought he wasn’t even worthy of your presence. He thought he was too far gone. He thought he was a wretch and he didn’t know that amazing grace was standing right in front of him.

So if you were to walk in this room right now and be physically present with me, what would my response be? Even though I know of your grace for me in my head, would I still fall to my knees and tell you to leave because I am not worthy of you presence? Does my heart really know that I should not be afraid in your presence? And given your words of assurance to Peter that he will be fishing for people from now on, should I now be wondering about how I’m fishing for people every day?

Father, use my life. I know I have a certain set of talents. I also have a great set of weaknesses. May your strength be made perfect in my weaknesses as I lay them and my talents before your cross and ask you to direct me. Use my life to encourage someone today. At least one person. And for the person in jail who has been on my heart for the last week, please give them the breakthrough that you want them to have.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus, my Amazing Grace, and your Holy Spirit, my Counselor and Comforter,

Amen