Luke 5:4-6, “When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your Word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish.”
People of God, God is not behind your pain, but He can use it as a tool of transformation when you turn to Him in the midst of it.
In Luke 5, Simon Peter was facing a frustrating night of fishing, as he “toiled all night and caught nothing.” But when Simon came to the end of himself, Jesus Christ gave him a new opportunity that started with an instruction to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” That night of seeming futility turned into a morning of miracles because sometimes the miracle lies on the other end of the instruction.
Take note, God does not force anyone to follow Him. As He freely gives His Word, He gives free will for you to decide what you will do with it. Will you react and obey it or will you reject and refuse it? Jesus gave Simon an instruction before he witnessed the supernatural manifestation of the huge catch of fish. If Simon had chosen to refuse that instruction because of the pain, toil and disappointment of the previous night, perhaps his story would be removed from history.
Simon responded to this incredible miracle by acknowledging his position before God as a sinner – how underserving he was – saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man”. While Simon pointed to his past; Jesus pointed to his future by revealing his calling as a fisher of men.He forsook all and followed Jesus. This goes to show that your reaction to a miracle is even more important than the miracle itself. So what will you do with Jesus Christ today? Let this question prompt you to follow Him more faithfully.Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You that whatever I am facing today can be used as a tool of transformation to preserve me for redemption. Help me to trust and obey your Word and to follow Your leading, even in the face of life’s toils and trials. In Jesus’ name, amen.