After an exhausting night of fishing that ended in no catches, the Apostle Peter must have been surprised to hear Jesus say, “Put out into deep water and put down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). Dutifully, Peter did as directed, whether or not he thought this was a good idea.
It was! Their nets began to break and their boat began to sink under the weight of a phenomenal catch. Overwhelmed, Peter responded with humility, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”
But Jesus did not want separation; he wanted service. As miraculous and, most likely, financially profitable as this catch of fish was, Jesus set Peter’s sights on a different goal: “from now on you will fish for people.” Peter’s life would now be to share the good news of sins forgiven and in that way “catch” people for God’s family.
Some 2,000 years later, we who by God’s grace have membership in God’s family have the same call: to give our faith away. During the middle of a school year, we can feel like Peter - unworthy, exhausted, with no catches. Like Peter, God lets us serve him anyway - with blessings in our nets. May we be honored by the privilege and inspired by the trust.
