Luke 5:3-11 [An Active Decision of Faith]

[Things to Meditate On]

1. In the passage above, Peter and his fellow fishermen had worked all night, yet had caught nothing. However, when Peter, who was a "fisherman," relied on the word of Jesus, who was known as a "carpenter," and let down the net, they caught so many fish that the net began to break, and the two ships were filled so full that they began to sink. Through this event, we must think about the difference between "a life lived by one’s own thoughts and experiences" and "a life lived by relying on the word of Jesus."

2. Are we perhaps putting our own experiences and thoughts ahead of the word of Jesus, deciding by our own judgment whether or not we should let down the net?

3. If we insist on our own thoughts before the word of Jesus, we must know that we may miss the opportunity to repent, that is, to turn back.

Romans 2:4-5 "4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;"

[Decision and Application]

A "fisherman" and a "carpenter" are completely different professions. Nevertheless, "Peter, who was a fisherman," did not insist on who he was, how much experience and ability he had gained until then, or what his thoughts and judgments based on those things were, before the word of "Jesus, who was known as a carpenter." This can be called the true appearance of a disciple who follows Jesus. In contrast, however, the children of Israel in the past suffered disaster because they insisted on their own thoughts.

Jeremiah 6:16-19 "16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it."

In order not to walk again in the same footsteps, we must be able, like Peter, to "deny ourselves" and "obey according to the word" of Jesus. Peter forsook his own experience and relied on the word of Jesus, making a "decision of faith" by saying, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." Through this, he was able to experience the power of the word of Jesus firsthand. Furthermore, he sincerely repented before Jesus (v. 8), forsook all, and became a "disciple" who followed Jesus.

Luke 14:33 "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

Thus, a life lived according to one’s own thoughts and experiences is extremely limited. When such a person faces a situation that seems impossible, he can obtain nothing. On the other hand, a life lived by relying on the word of Jesus makes even what seems impossible possible, so that one can obtain abundant results, just as Peter caught so many fish that the two ships were filled and began to sink.

Matthew 19:25-26 "25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

With this kind of faith, we too must now have an active faith like Peter’s, saying, "I will follow according to the word of Jesus!" If we desire to obey the word of Jesus with such active faith, Jesus will surely fulfill it for us also "just as He has spoken," as He did for Peter (Num. 23:19, Rom. 9:28)!

2 Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Matthew 19:27-29 "27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

Amen.