A Fishy Testimony

We are in the books of Luke and Acts through April, and this week, I'm reading slowly through Luke 5 to 8.

I was immediately struck this morning with the confession of Peter at the beginning of Luke 5. It is really a rather remarkable story, and it demonstrates that we may have a life-changing encounter with Jesus anywhere - even in a boat filled with wet, flopping fish!

Jesus used Peter's boat for a pulpit that morning - gaining some distance from the crowd that was pressing around him on the beach. Peter got to "sit on the platform" with the preacher since it was his boat and he was doing the rowing.

After the sermon, though, Jesus went to meddlin' as we say. He had some job advice for the career fisherman - Let's go fishing! Peter had fished all night without success. He was tired, and this was out of the ordinary. Imagine, a carpenter telling a fisherman how to fish! But Peter, out of respect for Jesus, does what he says.

And the results are staggering! Immediately the net was filled with such huge quantity of fish that the nets were breaking and the boat would not hold all the catch! Desperately, they signaled their partners on the shore to bring the other boat, and they loaded both boats with fish.

When the last bit of net was drawn in, and the last fish that could fit in the boat was aboard, Peter turned and looked at Jesus. And he saw Jesus with new eyes. No longer was he just a carpenter or even just a popular teacher. He saw the power of God at work in Jesus, and he knew that he was a man unworthy of God's blessing. Here was greatness in his boat!

And he fell on his knees in the midst of those wet, flopping fish, and he called Jesus "Lord."

And his Lord, who had already shown him grace, now gave a further grace - he gave him a place and a purpose in the eternal Kingdom of God! "From now on, you will be catching men."

What has caused you to see Jesus with "new eyes?"

And have you received the further grace of a place and a purpose in the eternal Kingdom?

Live out your identity in Christ this week! You are His!