Scripture Scribbles: February 9, 2025

the Gospel

Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening

to the word of God,

he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.

He saw two boats there alongside the lake;

the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.

Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,

he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.

Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,

"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."

Simon said in reply,

"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,

but at your command I will lower the nets."

When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish

and their nets were tearing.

They signaled to their partners in the other boat

to come to help them.

They came and filled both boats

so that the boats were in danger of sinking.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,

"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."

For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him

and all those with him,

and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

who were partners of Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;

from now on you will be catching men."

When they brought their boats to the shore,

they left everything and followed him.

the scribble

“Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,

he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.

Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.”

As I sit and pray with today’s Gospel, these often overlooked lines jump out at my heart.

It strikes me how Jesus approaches Simon. I imagine that Jesus knew Simon’s heart. He knew it was softened just enough to welcome Christ at that moment, on that day.

He knew it was time to encounter Him.

And He does it so gently, so compassionately, so knowingly.

He knows exactly what Simon needs for Him to open his heart further, to invite Christ fully in, and ultimately, to come and follow Him.

He gets into Simon’s boat, but He continues to preach to the crowd nearby. Notably, not to Simon directly. I can’t help but laugh at this, as I realize the ways God speaks to me in my life. Is he trying to get your attention somehow, maybe by being in your boat but speaking to the “crowd”? Close enough so you can hear, but not a direct ask of you just yet?

I imagine He knows Simon is half-listening, his heart mildly intrigued but maybe even also a bit annoyed by this man interrupting his day, his mind half-focused on his fishing problems and the lack of catch from the night before.

I smile as I ponder what it was that Jesus was preaching on. I suspect it was something He knew would interest Simon. If I was a betting girl, I’d bet He was speaking about something very tender to Simon’s heart. I’d bet He was blowing him away with some incredible truth, spoken in love, as only Jesus can. In the quiet of his heart, I imagine Simon was becoming more and more interested in what Jesus had to say.

And Jesus knew. Jesus knew him, and all his flaws, and his problems, and his distracted heart, and He loved him deeply.

He knew just what to do next to catch his attention.

At just the right moment, He turns to Simon and tells him to do something directly.

"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."

SImon is reluctant, but does it anyway. And the rest is history. The results are enough to bring Simon over the edge, to fully let down His heart, give everything up and follow Christ. We all know Simon is not perfect from here on out, as none of us are, but we also know his heart is sold out for Christ.

As I sit here today reflecting on this, I smile as I remember my own conversion journey to Him, to Truth. It was similar in so many ways. I smile again as I think about where and how He is speaking to me in my life now.

In what parts of my life does Christ see me from afar, yet to enter my boat?

In what parts of my heart does Christ sit, but preach to others nearby, intriguing me with His call, His voice?

In what parts of my life is He asking me to do something directly? Is it time for me to let down my nets for a catch?

In what parts of my life am I listening to what He’s asked, carrying through on His direction?

In what parts of my life am I reeling in the fish, gathering the good fruit? Bringing others in to help me take care of the load of blessings?

I invite you to sit with this Scripture today and ponder it with me. It feels as though I could sit here and reflect on it for days. This would be a great practice to bring into your next time with the Lord, whether in quiet prayer at home or in Adoration.

I am praying for you, my friend. Please pray for me as I reflect on the places Christ is asking me to let my nets down for the next catch, at His command.

Today’s devotion was written by Rachel Smith