Luke 5:1-7

Obeying God in small matters can bring blessing to many. Today's passage illustrates this principle.

Simon Peter, a fisherman by trade, had worked hard the entire night without catching anything. He was on the shore finishing his work when Jesus approached him. The Lord wanted to speak from the boat to the crowd onshore. Despite a long, fruitless night of work, Peter agreed to take Jesus in the vessel. The crowd was blessed by seeing and hearing Christ preach.

God's requests can come to us at inopportune or unexpected moments. We may be tempted to let someone else respond to His call, thinking it will not matter who is the one to comply. But remember, His plans are designed for our benefit (Jer. 29:11).

Later Jesus made a second request to Peter—to move the boat into deeper water and let down the nets. The fisherman commented about the unlikelihood of catching anything but nevertheless did as Christ asked. Peter's cooperation resulted in an abundance for the crowd, the other fishermen, their families, and himself.

Peter didn't obey in order to be rewarded, yet that is precisely what happened. His simple acts of obedience led to greater opportunities for service and occasions for abundant blessing.

Some of us act as if obedience in the little things is unimportant. Peter's story teaches us the opposite. Let's commit to carrying out the Lord's instructions in small matters as well as large ones, trusting that He will bring good from all obedience. Following God is always the right choice to make.

Dr. Charles Stanley

The First Disciples

1 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret ; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake ; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break ; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.

Luke 5:1-7