Devotional #07 — Divine encounters

Sending love!

Oh! How I’ve been looking forward to sharing this with you. This text has been ministering to me constantly over the past few weeks, I hope you’ll be encouraged and learn something.

Today, we’re breaking down Luke 5:1-11 …it’s going to be good! This chapter records Jesus’ calling of the disciples to ministry. However, we’re going to let it speak to us in this day and time. Let’s …

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.

Luke 5:1-2

Now, we know God to be sovereign and available to all. It is easy for us to think of Him as a busy guy, imagining that He takes care of the entire universe! We see a similar scenario in the quoted verses. Jesus is surrounded by the multitude in desperate need to hear from Him. The fishermen must have thought to themselves that He was too busy to notice them, but He did! He saw their boats and noticed that they had left to go and wash their nets — a sign that they had given up on fishing for the day.

I am willing to bet that there things we’re about to or have given up on. Someone is washing nets and has left their boat because Jesus is seemingly too busy to notice them. But I have good news…

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.

Luke 5:3 NKJV

Jesus sees you! Not only that, He is always ready to meet you at your point of need. Wait, there’s more… your boat/situation is useful! Don’t be too quick to disregard your story or your experience — it is necessary. Jesus will teach others from it. Your experience may not be a lesson for you, but a place from which God will speak and reach out to others. He sat and taught from one of the boats that the fishermen had left earlier.

Side note: bear in mind that a boat is a means of transportation.

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.”

Luke 5:4-5

Yes, your experiences may be useful to helping others but therein lies your purpose too! When Jesus is done speaking to others from your boat, He will address you too. This text was life changing for me because it clarified that when Christ meets steps into your life, He doesn’t do superficial things. He deals with us from the depths of our being, like He invited the soon-to-be disciples to let down their nets (I would say let down their guard). Will you let Him in? It’s all about opening up to Him…

The problem is that we’re quick to give reasons why we can’t let Him in or get intimate with Him. It’s easy for us to point out everything else that is going wrong. The fishermen did the same, nothing new under the sun! However, they listened. It is important for us to listen to what God is saying to us in every season and situations. When He steps into your boat, listen to Him.

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 that they began to sink.

Luke 5:6-7

Once you open up to Christ and act on the instruction of His word, life changes! He will break cycles, chains, ideas, walls, false defences… you name it! He is in the business of going beyond our expectations. Your nets (your guard or expectation) has to break in order to make room for Him. Your boat is not your destination, but only a mode of transportation to where God is taking you. Once Christ takes up space, everything else starts to fade! Yes, you got it — the sinking boats.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down 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

Luke 5:8-9 NKJV

As everything fades, we begin to see how much we need Christ. Simon Peter is humbled by what he sees when Christ goes deeper with them. A true encounter with the word of God and Christ — leaves you humble and a changed person.

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. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

Luke 5:9-10

When Christ comes into your life and you give your boat to Him and listen to His instruction, it will affect those around you. A city on a hill cannot be hidden! As great as this is, it is also terrifying. Functioning in the supernatural is a big deal! Jesus knew this and He made sure that He reassured Simon Peter and company.

His reassurance is not ordinary. It comes with a promise! Jesus promises you and I a better life. Instead of being fishermen — He made Simon Peter and company fishers of men!

So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him

Luke 5:11

Phew!!! There it is, the ultimate result. Forsaking everything for Christ. He seeks to meet our every need provided that we let Him in.

He notices us when we think He isn’t. He meets us where we are. He uses what we have. He calls us deeper and addresses our concerns. He breaks away things that don’t serve us anymore. He humbles our souls. He reassures our hearts. He gives a promise to our spirit.

Why not surrender to such goodness?