Our True Identity
Jesus said . . . , “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Luke 5:10
READ Luke 5:1–11
First, the man selected a tackle box.
Standing in his town’s small bait shop, he then filled a shopping cart
with hooks, lures, bobbers, line, and weights. Finally, he added live
bait and selected a new rod and reel. “Ever fished before?” the shop
owner asked. The man said no. “Better add this,” said the owner. It was a
first-aid kit. The man agreed and paid, then headed off to a day of not
catching a thing—except snags on his fingers from his hooks and gear. That
wasn’t Simon Peter’s problem. An experienced fisherman, he was
surprised one dawn when Jesus told him to push his boat into deep water
and “let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). Despite a long night of
catching nothing, Simon and his crew let down their nets and “caught
such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” In fact,
his two boats started to sink from the haul (v. 6).
Seeing this, Simon Peter “fell at Jesus’ knees,” urging Him to “go
away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (v. 8). Jesus, however, knew
Simon’s true identity. He told His disciple, “From now on you will fish
for people.” Hearing that, Simon “left everything and followed” Christ
(vv. 10–11). When we follow Him, He helps us learn who we are and what
we’re called to do as His own.
By Patricia Raybon |
Outside of Jesus, what’s your identity or role in life? When you follow Him, how does your identity change?
Father, when I struggle to know my true identity, remind me to follow You to discover in You my true self. | | | | |
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Luke 5:1–11 contains the first of two
similar fishing stories that frame Jesus’ earthly interaction with Simon
Peter. In this account, Peter immediately recognized he’d encountered
someone holy (v. 8). It’s also the moment Jesus called Peter as a
disciple (v. 10). Three years later, Peter betrayed Christ (22:54–62).
Believing everything was over, he returned to his old life as a
fisherman. Then a second miraculous catch of fish took place. Again,
Peter realized it was Jesus (John 21:1–7). The first miracle was God’s
call on Peter’s life; the second brought restoration and a reaffirmation
of that call (vv. 15–19).
Tim Gustafson
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