Put out into the deep ...

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 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. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 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.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

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Stories like this one remind me of how Jesus proclaimed an uncommon message to very common people. The Lord had been using Peter's boat to preach from and the disciple had been listening to the teaching. I wonder what the Lord was teaching? Perhaps it was how God takes care of the sparrows? For soon Peter would experience the provision of God in an extraordinary way. Soon the words of Christ would be displayed with a boat full of fish.

Peter's reactions are so telling. At first he resists but then obeys Jesus' words. And moments later he kneels in amazement and leaves everything to follow Jesus' call to fish for men. I think that this is the way that most of us react to the call of Christ in our hearts. His words initially seem too good to be true but something inside of us relents and we obey putting out into deep uncharted waters. And then we fall to our knees in awe leaving all for Jesus.

Make me a fisher today Lord. Open my eyes to opportunities to share you with others.