Luke 5:1-11
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
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, and their net was breaking. So 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. 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 which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
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Luke 5:27-32
After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
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God delights when we hear and answer His call at the cost of something that seems urgent or important to us. We see this remarkable pattern several times in Scripture, but perhaps nowhere as clearly as in the call of the disciples by Jesus. When gathering His twelve disciples, Jesus displayed His willingness to enter any circumstance and issue a call. In every instance in which we are given the details, Jesus called a young person from a situation, which, from their earthly point of view, must have appeared full of promise and potential. In Luke 5 he called Simon Peter and the other fishermen, young men who were already involved in a fishing business.
Moments later Jesus called Levi, a young man actively at work as a tax collector. God will sometimes make a point to call out to you when you’re already busy with something important. What a test to see the true desire of our heart! Imagine yourself pursuing something important to you and hearing Jesus calling you away from it, saying reassuringly, “Do not be afraid.” Be aware, be courageous, and be ready—Jesus is calling!
That concludes our devotional for today. Let us finish with a word of prayer.
WORD OF PRAYER
Dear Lord, Thank You for the call into Your kingdom. When I hear Your voice calling me to something more significant than I’m already a part of, help me to answer that call—even if it’s different than my original plan for myself. Teach me to trust You and follow You more closely. I want to recognize and answer Your call for my life. Help me to bring delight to You in my recognition of and obedience to Your call.
In the name of Jesus, amen!
