"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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(4) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon (Peter), Put out into the deep [water], and lower your nets for a haul. (5) And Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled all night [exhaustingly] and caught nothing [in our nets]. But on the ground of Your word, I will lower the nets [again]. (6) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish; and as their nets were [at the point of] breaking, (7) They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and take hold with them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (8) But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (9) For he was gripped with bewildering amazement [allied to terror], and all who were with him, at the haul of fish which they had made; (10) And so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon (Peter). And Jesus said to Simon, Have no fear; from now on you will be catching men! (11) And after they had run their boats on shore, they left everything and joined Him as His disciples {and} sided with His party {and} accompanied Him.

Amplified® Bible copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Jesus takes the opportunity of this miracle to call His disciples into a Teacher - student relationship with Him. He figuratively catches Peter in His net before commanding him to "catch men" for the Kingdom of God. Immediately, Peter, Andrew, James, and John leave their boats and nets behind and follow Him. They now understand that Jesus is more than capable of supplying their every need.

We are to apply this lesson in our own lives. When Christ speaks, it is always about obedience to God's way of life. In this case, His teaching affected the disciples' livelihoods. Worship and work form major parts of our lives, too, and in both we must consistently maintain righteousness.

Had Peter failed to obey Christ's command, he would have failed to experience both the miracle and the resulting blessing. No one serves God without being compensated for his service. When we serve, sacrifice, testify, or stand for Him, He will suitably reward our efforts. When God asks us to invest our time, effort, talent, or anything else, we must not resent the opportunity. No one pays dividends on an investment as abundantly as God does - "good measure, pressed down, and running over will be put into your bosom" (Luke 6:38).

— Martin G. Collins

To learn more, see:
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: The Great Catch of Fish



 

Topics:

Blessing

Blessings

Disciple

Disciples, Making

Disciples, Role of

Disciples, The

Discipleship

Discipleship, Cost of

Dragging imagery

Fish as Metaphor

Fishers of Men

Jesus Christ's Miracles

Miracles

Miracles and Faith

Miracles of Jesus Christ

Obedience

Obeying

Sacrifice

Sacrificial Attitude

Sacrificial Giving




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