Four Fishermen Called as Disciples
When God pursues those who are frustrated, He shows them His great power, and collaborates with them until they are ready. Teaching, Training, Disciplining, Deliverance, Healing, Encouraging and much more. This passage tells us how God calls ordinary people, the uneducated to discipleship and mission, for example, Simon Peter and his fishing partners were ordinary men, not educated, but simple fishermen, who were simply doing what they did every day, cleaning their nets after a long, particularly discouraging night of work, then Jesus comes along, enters their normal lives and changes everything. God’s ways are different from our ways.
Jesus calls Peter and his partners as they were,Simon Peter was aware of his unworthiness, but Jesus was not put off by this, Jesus did not ask Peter to become organized, for him to prepare his resume, and then come back for an interview. Rather, Jesus encounters him as he is, tells him not to be afraid, and calls him to a new mission of catching people.
Mark 8:34-38 tells us, “Take up the Cross and follow Him.” Deny yourself and take up the cross, for Jesus is waiting.
Testimony:
When Jesus called me to ministry, I did not know the Scriptures, nor did I know how to preach or pray. My husband was also extremely angry, saying, if you do not stop praying for people, stop traveling for ministry, I will marry another woman, then the abuse and much womanizing began. But I continued to focus on Jesus, who is my First and only True Love, who has blessed me with His love and peace.
I gave myself away to Jesus.
I gave myself away when the Lord asked me to help the poor.
When you visit the widows in need, you give yourself away.
When you serve food to the homeless and the needy, you give yourself away.
The Priests vowed poverty and celibacy to serve the Lord, they have also given there lives away.
When Paul, who persecuted the Church was called by Jesus, and became the loudest voice for Christianity, wrote most of the New Testament, gave himself away, traveled to many towns and cities then ended in Rome where he was killed.
Peter who gave himself away, also traveled to many towns and cities and ended up in Rome where he preached until his death, Peter was crucified legs-up.
Do not be afraid, because there is immense joy in giving oneself away to our Father. Jesus gave Himself to us, He put on flesh and suffered for our sakes, for the sake of love, willingly surrendered Himself to be crucified, carried that heavy cross, His flesh was torn apart, nail pierced hands and feet, suffered hunger and thirst, was dead and buried. He gave Himself away. (LOVE).
Is Jesus calling you?
Are you able to give yourself away to Him?
Throughout Scripture we see God call imperfect people to do God’s work, people who are aware of their unworthiness and are often doubting and resistant to God’s call. (see, for example, Exodus 3:10-12; Isaiah 6:1-6; Jeremiah 1:6-8)
Jesus’ word to Simon Peter is also a word to all mankind, “Do not be afraid.” This is Jesus’ mission, and we trust that He will keep collaborating with us and through us, “catching” others as He has caught us in the deep, wide net of God’s mercy and love. We know the catch is in God’s hands, and God’s desire is for the nets to be bursting and the boats full.
Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid, when Jesus calls, follow Him. “Come follow Me” The book of Luke tells us, when Jesus called, the four disciples left all things and followed Jesus. To follow Jesus, one will leave something behind, in this case, they left their nets and followed Jesus till death.
Much love and peace multiplied to you.
Please Read Luke 5:1-11 (NKJV).
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So, they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both the boats, so they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So, when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” (Luke 5:1-11) (NKJV).