Fishers for people

One of the lectionary readings for last week was Luke 5:1-11. I liked the devotion that was published in the Disciplines book for the scripture. The church (to the left) that I attended this Sunday had a really good sermon centered around this passage. Take a look at the scripture:

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

I've printed the whole scripture in this post because I realized last week how much depth it has. Look at how many things one can learn about serving God from these eleven verses.

• "Put out in deep water" -- That's scary!
• Simon doesn't believe that what Jesus is asking him to do is worthwhile
• But he does it anyway! (Trust and obey)
• Their nets were beginning to break (abundance beyond imagination)
• Simon has to call his partner over to complete the catch (we need each other)

So much depth in such a little passage. I have a feeling we'll be looking at it again.