Daily Reading: Luke 5
Scripture Focus: And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5.5)
Devotional Thought: Do you know what's better than having a boat? Having a friend with a boat! Jesus' friend, Peter, had a boat, and Jesus borrowed it for a pulpit. After he preached, Jesus said to Peter, "Let’s do a little fishing!" Peter had his objections, but responded in a telling way. Consider…
· Master… Peter decided something about Jesus. Jesus was the Master; Peter was the disciple. Jesus was the Teacher; Peter was the student. Jesus was the Leader; Peter was the follower. How about you? Have you made Jesus your Master?
· We toiled all night and took nothing… Peter knew something about himself. Pride is a hard foe to defeat. But, the facts spoke for themselves. Peter – a great fisherman in his own eyes, I’m sure – had worked all night long and came home empty. What a blow to his ego. And, then have a carpenter tell him what to do? Peter recognized that his own ability had been inadequate for the job. Have you ever been there? Have you ever worked all night – or all day, or all month, or all year – and come away empty-handed? Rejoice! You are a candidate for a miracle. When we confess our need and our weakness, Jesus will step in. He says, “My power is made perfect in weakness.”
· But at your word I will let down the nets… Peter committed to a new course of action. Recognizing who Jesus is, and who we are, is just the beginning. We have to let down the nets. Life isn’t easy, and success isn’t automatic. We have to do what Jesus says! Have you committed to a new course of action, a new way of living?
Prayer: Lord, you are my Master. I don't want to do this thing called life on my own, for I will fail. But, with you, I can do all things. At your word, O Lord, I will take action and "let down my nets" today. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 135.8-14
8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; 10 who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, 11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.
13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. 14 For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
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