Today’s Devotion
Topic: A Life with Purpose.
Text: Luke 5:8, 10b.
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me — I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 10b Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” Amen.
Every single person who happens to be a Christian now was at one point in time living in sin. Under the control of sin, people’s chief goal is to gratify the insatiable desires of the flesh. The very parts of their bodies are used as instruments of evil for the devil, until the light of the gospel of Christ shines on them.
Up until this conversion, people usually live for themselves and are more concerned with what benefits them rather than others. Interestingly, a genuine encounter with Christ drastically turns the tables over.
As recounted in our passage today, Simon Peter and his partners had toiled hard the night before Jesus asked to use his boat in preaching to the crowd. After the sermon, Jesus said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “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.”
And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 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. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me — I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” (Luke 5: 1- 11).
In a matter of a few hours, if not minutes, Jesus had redefined the lives of these fishermen and given them a much higher purpose – fishing for men. This is exactly what He does with anyone who comes to Him in faith. He takes the very abilities and passions you have and redirects them to His glory and for the benefit of mankind. He has an awesome plan for the world, into which we all fit perfectly as Christians.
Beloved, meditate on this word and begin to pray. Submit to Him every sin that easily entangles you and every weight that slows you down. Fall at His feet in surrender and watch Him turn your life into a bright one with a much greater purpose.
Remember that the whole of creation eagerly awaits your manifestation as a Child of God. Do not delay any further. Offer yourself for this higher calling and divine purpose! Let it be now, for tomorrow might very well be too late.
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