25/09/2013 - CHANGE OF PURPOSE

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…And so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

Luke 5:10

This verse from the Gospel of Luke teaches us great and powerful lessons. In fact, that is the goal of the Word. When reading the Bible daily, pay attention to what you learn because that is how the Lord speaks. Whatever you learn should be taken as a commandment. Through His Word, God gives you the power to do what it announces. So do not make the mistake of ignoring what He says.

Jesus once needed Peter’s boat (Luke 5:3). Oftentimes He needs something that is yours too, and you feel you must lend Him but end up not doing it. Your home, for instance, could become a place where once a week, or monthly, people would learn the Word and be blessed. The Master showed the importance of making meetings in which the poor, the sick and all those who suffered could be blessed (Matt. 15.29-39, Mark 1.32-34). Today, few people open the doors of their home to receive Him, but they do open for other purposes.

After the preaching of Jesus, there came the reward. Peter marveled at what he had learned. Although he was an experienced fisherman, he had not caught anything; yet he obeyed the Lord and let down the net again. The sea was not favorable to fishing, according to nature. However, those who obey the Word always see His power in action. Then, all of a sudden, the nets were filled with so many fish that they were breaking (Luke 5:6). This shows that those who follow God’s guidance are always blessed.

Peter and his fellow fishermen were amazed; after all, what they were witnessing was beyond their expectation. It had never happened even on a good day of fishing. May this lesson be the heart of all those who lend something to the Lord, for His reward is not tardy! If Peter had failed to launch out the net and said, “Lord, do not bother… I lent you the boat without expecting anything”, he would have missed the catch and the lesson.

Jesus showed Peter His real intention: to indicate a change of purpose. Peter would still be a fisherman, but of men. It would be so many people that the Master warned him not to fear. This is the kind of preacher the Church needs: People who will launch out nets that will be overflown with fish. He who learns from the Savior always complies with His orders and is amazed to realize that if he walks with Jesus, he will see miracles all the time.

Initially astonished, Peter asked the Master to depart from him (verse 8). The divine operations cause astonishment in those with good intentions. They are the ones who will do the work with God’s help, because holiness is the first necessary element for the Lord to give you a ministry.

In Christ with Love,

R. R. Soares