After a long night fishing, with little success, Simon Peter was worn out and discouraged. Then, just when he was getting ready to head home, Jesus asked to use Peter’s boat as a speaking platform. Reluctantly he agreed and for the next couple hours he listened as Jesus shared the Good News with the “great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God.” (Luke 5:1 NLT).
When Jesus finished speaking, he said to Peter, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” (v. 4).
Peter knew this was a foolish request. He replied, “Master…we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” (v. 5).
With a sigh of resignation Peter pushed off into the deep and let down his nets. “And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.” (v. 6, 7).
This is a great story, but let me ask you a question. What if Peter hadn’t let down his nets? What if he’d given into discouragement and told Jesus “No”? I’m not much of a fisherman, but I do know this – if you don’t cast your lure or let down your net, you’re not going to catch anything.
Jesus has called us to be fishers of men, to draw others to Him. But how can we do this if we’re too afraid or too busy to let down our nets, too caught up in the distractions of life to invite someone to know Jesus, too wrapped up in our own problems to give another a helping hand?
Today, be a true fisher of men. Let down your nets, nets of love, compassion and kindness, nets of kind words and kind deeds. Draw your family and friends to Jesus by showing them love in action. Don’t be afraid, don’t let these opportunities pass. Let down your nets and draw someone to their Savior today.