01/10/2026
COME. WALK WITH ME ALONG THE SHORE in Luke 5:1-11.
Imagine you're hearing waves of the lake... breathing in clean, crisp air... peacefully feeling the breeeze... then, there's a commotion.
There was a man, Jesus, teaching about the word of God, who started gaining traction. There were people crowding around Jesus, interested to listen to Him preach the word of God. Meanwhile, there were fishermen (Simon and his partners, James and John) washing their nets, seemingly indifferent to Jesus' presence.
Jesus got into Simon's boat and asked him to put out a little from the shore. After Jesus taught the people from the boat, He told Simon to let down the nets for a catch.
After the preaching came the practical part --listening to God's Word followed by acting upon it in obedience. (Wise and Foolish Builder in Matthew 7:24-27; Do Not Merely Listen in James 1:22-25)
"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.'" (verse 5)
Though Jesus' instruction didn't seem to make sense, when Simon and his companions had done so, they were astonished at the insanely impossible thing they experienced firsthand. They caught a large number of fish that their boats began to sink.
Simon was not only astonished, but seeing the great works only the Lord can do, led him to confess his sinfulness, his vulnerability, his insufficiency.
Amazement at God's greatness that leads to humble contrition is followed by genuine repentance and complete surrender.
"Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.' So they pulled their boats up on the shore, left everything and followed Him." (verse 10b)
We know that the story of these men, Simon, James and John, did not end here. Such surrender to the Lord leads to changed lives --not just theirs but the lives of those around them and the generations after them. They became Jesus' disciples who continued serving the Lord their entire lives, and because they have witnessed how true and faithful God is, they followed Him even to the death.
Are you simply interested to hear about God's Word or are you intentional in following Him? Following Jesus comes with a great cost but it is totally worth it. Come and see for yourself.
