Luke 5:1-11 (NRSV)
Read Luke 5:1-11 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 5Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, Verse 2he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Verse 3He 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. Verse 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Verse 5Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." Verse 6When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. Verse 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. Verse 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" Verse 9For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; Verse 10and 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." Verse 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Devotion
Jesus tells the fishermen to put down their nets in the deep water. Simon Peter thinks Jesus has no idea what he’s talking about. They have been fishing all night and haven’t caught anything.
What does this Jesus know about fishing? That’s how many of us approach what we consider “secular” tasks. How could Jesus know anything about business, schools, finance, medicine, administration, etc? It’s fine to listen to Jesus about “faith stuff” but not when it comes to other things.
Yet, if we listen to God’s leading in all our tasks, we will find that our lives and work become more fruitful. We will also find that God will use our “secular” tasks to carry out his work in the world, just as he used those fishermen. In fact, there are no such thing as “secular” tasks. This whole world is God’s and all that we do can be part of God’s work!
Prayer
Abundant God, thank you for the gift of daily work. Help us to trust your leading. Use us to carry out your work in the world. Amen.