Respond to the Master's Call

As you may recall, we have been looking at Luke 5:1-7, where Jesus taught the people from Simon Peter's boat (vv. 1-3), then commanded Peter to "launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch" (v. 4). After complaining that they had been fishing "all night and caught nothing" (v. 5a), Peter quieted and said, "nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net" (v. 5b). Of course, when he did, he made a catch so big the "net was breaking" (v. 6). They signaled for help, and John and James came to the rescue (v. 7a). They helped Peter and Andrew bring in the net and "filled both the boats, so that they began to sink" (v. 7b). Now for the rest of the story:

Peter, along with his brother Andrew and their partners James and John, were all amazed at what they saw and had experienced, simply because they had responded to the Master's command. "But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, 'Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon" (vv. 8-10a, NASB).

Amazement on behalf of the fishermen resulted in confession. Peter now recognized Jesus as Lord and "fell down at Jesus' feet" (v. 8a). That is where we all must begin. Only when cleansed through confession and faith are we ready to be used by God as His fishermen. That is our first response.

When the fishermen responded by confession, Jesus concluded His instruction by confirming His call upon their lives. He told Peter, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men" (v. 10b, NASB). That call goes out to all four of His fishermen. It goes out to all of us as well. This is His promise for all believers: Follow Him and "you will be catching men" (v. 10b). Literally, we are called to reach out to others for Christ.

"Catching" (v. 10b), from the verb "to catch" in the original Greek, means "to take alive, as taking animals alive for a zoo or circus." When wild animals are caught for a zoo, they are trapped and taken alive, not shot and killed, so the zookeeper can put them on display. That is what we are to be doing for Christ. We are to respond to the Master's call by getting to know Him better, by living for Him every day, and by seeking to "catch" people for Christ. Literally, we are to "take people alive" for Christ.

In verse 11, the confession of the fishermen and the call of Jesus on their lives is followed by a special response: "When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him" (NASB). Peter, James, John, and presumably Andrew, responded by dropping their nets, leaving everything, and following Jesus. We too must respond to the Master's call by putting Jesus first in our lives and by following His calling. Then we too "will be catching men" (v. 10b). So, the third "key" to life-style evangelism is to follow Jesus, putting Him first in your life, so that others will be drawn to Him.

Our ambition in life should be the souls of men—reaching them for Christ. Such is our call. Let's do it! Life-style evangelism is to be our way of life. To know Christ and to make Him known—that is to be our life's motto. Amen.