Rev. George Brodie, Sr. Pastor, Revelstoke Alliance Church
Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Lectio Divina
There is an ancient practice of listening to God’s Word called “Lectio Divina”—divine or spiritual reading. Let’s follow this process in order to contemplate Luke 5:1–11.
Lectio Divina involves four steps
a) Reading the passage
b) Meditation on the passage
c) Praying the passage
d) Contemplating the passage.
A) Reading the Passage: Please read the passage of Scripture slowly, listening for a particular word or phrase that might stick out to you.
B) Meditate on the Passage: Reread the passage, this time imagining the scene as you read it. Place yourself in the scene as one of the fishermen on the boat. What do you see? What emotions do you experience? What do you learn about Jesus? What do you learn about yourself?
C) Pray the Passage: Pray about the following Questions:
- How can you practically follow God as the number one priority in your life? Write out three things and do them this week. Then keep on doing them - one day, one week at a time.
- How can you love your neighbour/spouse/family today? Write out three things and do them within the next 24 hours. Then do it all over again the next day!
D) Contemplate the Passage: It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day requirements of life. Get up, work out, shower, breakfast, look after the kids, feed the dog, commute to work, work all day, come home, dinner, look after the kids, feed the dog, watch a quick show on the TV, go to bed. Get up the next day and repeat all over again.
However, living only for the needs and requirements of that day is ultimately unfulfilling. You might look up 20 years later, with your kids all moved out, your job being nothing but drudgery and your relationships no longer exciting and challenging. Jesus calls you to something entirely different.
Jesus calls you to a life of a discipleship, to follow him. To pursue the things of God first and foremost. To love God as the primary purpose of your life. To love other people the way he loved you. Raising your kids becomes a holy adventure with eternal consequences. Feeding your dog becomes an act of caring for God’s creation. Working all day becomes an opportunity to bless other people —both your colleagues and your customers. Cooking food is an exercise in community, love, care and appreciation for the physical world God has made for us. Watching a show on TV might give us an opportunity to laugh or cry—to experience our God-given emotions.
Putting God first and foremost in your life gives meaning and purpose and colour and taste to everything else we do. Will you not pull up your boat on the shore and come and follow Jesus?
Finish off this devotional time by considering how Jesus called his disciples and how he is calling you today. In what way is he asking you to “fish for people’?
Author Bio
Rev George Brodie is privileged to serve as Senior Pastor,
Revelstoke Alliance Church. He’s married to an amazing wife for thirty years, has four incredible children, two crazy dogs and one lazy cat! He’s currently studying for his Doctorate in Liberal Studies at Memphis University, TN.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revelstokealliance
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Luke and Acts taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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