Luke 5:11
Think about a time that you dropped everything that you were doing to go do something else. Typically, we can see that whatever needed our attention was more important than what we were doing. For example, you drop the sponge while you’re doing dishes and run outside to check on your child after hearing them cry. Or you drop your slice of pizza because you see your grandma’s beloved vase just got knocked off the bookshelf and you’re trying to catch it before it breaks. Those are silly examples, but the truth is when something more important comes along, we are quick to drop everything and go!
“So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11
This singular verse is extremely powerful. Prior to this, Peter had not fully made the commitment to follow Jesus. At that moment, Peter knew that following Jesus was more important than continuing on his journey of being a fisherman. He left everything and followed Him.
Why is it so difficult for us to fully commit to following Jesus? For those of us who call ourselves Christians, we still struggle to put our selfish desires down and fully follow Jesus. It’s like we are tied to an anchor and we don’t want to cut the rope. We let things like our past, our sin or our shame hold us back. We let things like our desires for success, wealth or greed hold us back. We let things like our ego, pride, fear, discontentment, anger, confusion, hurt; you name it, hold us back.
When we follow Jesus, He wants every part of us! He wants us to go all in and have the courage to drop everything and run towards Him. This is an instance in the Bible where it’s hard to comprehend the gravity of this situation. If you put yourself in Peter’s shoes, you would be leaving your job, your comfort, your identity, your livelihood; to follow a man. But this wasn’t just any man; this was Jesus. Although we all may be “dropping” something different, the idea is the same: that we have to be willing to drop everything and follow Jesus.
The parallel in this verse is also in regards to our old life. When we call upon Jesus as our personal Savior, we drop our old self and walk in new life with Him. We are no longer slaves to sin, but free in Christ! Following Jesus is more than just attending church and maybe praying here and there. It is a daily commitment to drop everything, die to self and grow in your walk with Him.
“So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11
This singular verse is extremely powerful. Prior to this, Peter had not fully made the commitment to follow Jesus. At that moment, Peter knew that following Jesus was more important than continuing on his journey of being a fisherman. He left everything and followed Him.
Why is it so difficult for us to fully commit to following Jesus? For those of us who call ourselves Christians, we still struggle to put our selfish desires down and fully follow Jesus. It’s like we are tied to an anchor and we don’t want to cut the rope. We let things like our past, our sin or our shame hold us back. We let things like our desires for success, wealth or greed hold us back. We let things like our ego, pride, fear, discontentment, anger, confusion, hurt; you name it, hold us back.
When we follow Jesus, He wants every part of us! He wants us to go all in and have the courage to drop everything and run towards Him. This is an instance in the Bible where it’s hard to comprehend the gravity of this situation. If you put yourself in Peter’s shoes, you would be leaving your job, your comfort, your identity, your livelihood; to follow a man. But this wasn’t just any man; this was Jesus. Although we all may be “dropping” something different, the idea is the same: that we have to be willing to drop everything and follow Jesus.
The parallel in this verse is also in regards to our old life. When we call upon Jesus as our personal Savior, we drop our old self and walk in new life with Him. We are no longer slaves to sin, but free in Christ! Following Jesus is more than just attending church and maybe praying here and there. It is a daily commitment to drop everything, die to self and grow in your walk with Him.
Posted in Devotional