1 Corinthians 15.1-11; Luke 5.1-11
Have you ever felt unqualified to do something?
Maybe you were given a task at work that seemed beyond your skills. Or perhaps you felt called to do something meaningful, but doubt crept in; why me?
In today’s passages from Luke, we see a powerful story of calling. Jesus calls Simon Peter, James, and John -ordinary fishermen- to become His disciples. They weren’t religious scholars or community leaders.
They were hardworking men, just trying to make a living. But Jesus saw something in them.
Something they didn’t see themselves yet.
Today this passage speaks directly to us. Just as Jesus called these fishermen, He calls each of us,
to follow Him,
to trust Him,
and to step into deeper waters of faith.
Jesus meets Simon Peter at his workplace, on his fishing boat. Peter wasn’t in the synagogue or prayerfully meditating on a mountain top. He was doing his daily job when Jesus entered his life.
Likewise, Jesus calls us in our daily lives at work, in school, whilst shopping or at home.
He doesn’t wait for us to have everything figured out.
He meets us right where we are in the middle of our sometimes messy, busy, and chaotic lives!
Maybe you’ve felt God nudging you towards something, joining a ministry, sharing your faith, or serving in a new way.
Don’t ignore it just because it comes in the middle of your routine at an inconvenient moment!
Be attentive to God’s call. Be brave!
The bible is full of stories of people being called by God. Often the recipient of the call feels frightened by the call and tries to avoid it or runs away. Jonah is a great example.
I have personal experience of this. Not only was I not prepared to go into deeper waters when God called, I didn’t even want to paddle!
I definitely didn’t feel worthy or up to the task when I was asked if I had considered Ordained ministry. I made lots of excuses, procrastinated and even argued with God. But God is a patient and persistent God. Through out my discernment I described it as God’s tinnitus. He is relentless.
I really didn’t understand why me. In the end I gave in, I trusted and dipped my toe without understanding how deep the water was going to be.
Obedience often comes before understanding.
Peter hesitates: We’ve worked all night and caught nothing!
I wonder if Peter wasn’t muttering under his breath at this moment, a little annoyed at being told how to do his job, tired from fishing all night and catching nothing.
But then he says, because you say so, I will let down the nets.
Peter didn’t understand why Jesus was asking him to do this, but he obeyed.
What happened? A miraculous catch! So many fish the nets began to break.
We tend to prefer the surface things, the comfortable familiar things. But Jesus tells Peter to go into deep water and let down his nets. Jesus beckons us into the depths, the deep, unseen, unknown and mysterious. The situations and places that push us and stretch us. It is here that the catch is made, the miracles take place. Like Peter we have to surrender. To trust.
Many times, God asks us to step out in faith before we see what the plan is or the end results maybe. That really is a step even a leap of faith. But in that obedience comes the most wonderful feeling of hope and contentment. It’s a little bit like free falling but knowing you have a parachute.
Is God calling you to step out of your comfort zone? It may not be in a grand gesture kind of way, pack up leave, but it may still feel overwhelming to you.
It could be to forgive someone, to build bridges and relationships, it could be to start a new ministry.
You may not fully understand why, you may feel a little irked or annoyed by what you think God is asking of you, a bit like Peter.
But obedience comes before blessing.
When Peter sees the miracle, he falls at Jesus’ feet and says, go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man! Peter suddenly realises he is in the presence of someone holy and feels unworthy.
How often do we feel the same? I know I do.
I’m not good enough to follow Jesus. I have too many mistakes. I don’t know enough about the Bible.
But Jesus doesn’t push Peter, with all his insecurities, away. Instead, He says, do not be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.
Jesus doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
He knows our weaknesses, yet He invites us anyway. He doesn’t see who we are He sees who can become in Him.
The story ends with a very powerful moment. They pulled their boats up on to the shore, left everything, and followed Jesus.
Peter, James, and John left behind their livelihoods, their security, and their old way of life to follow Jesus.
For us today following Jesus might not mean leaving your job but it does mean surrendering your plans, your fears, and your excuses.
Jesus is calling each of us into our own deeper waters. Maybe he is calling you to trust Him more with your family, your finances, or your future.
Is He calling you to share your faith with someone who doesn’t know Him yet?
The question is will you obey?
Even when you don’t fully understand.
Luke reminds us in these passages that Jesus calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things. He meets us where we are, asks for our obedience and transforms us into disciples who change the world, one encounter at a time.
He does not ask us to do this alone but with him as our rock, as our cheerleader and our parachute!
So, what is your boat?
What is Jesus asking you to step away from so that you can follow him more fully?
Today you are being invited into deeper waters, even if that’s just to paddle or dip your toe.
Will you answer the call?
Amen.
Revd Tracy Jones