In Luke 5:1-11, Simon Peter becomes a disciple of Jesus. In a few verses, we learn a whole lot about faith.
At Your Word, I Will I will accept Your invitation to obey
Jesus preached all night. Peter fished. Jesus preached the word of God and it garnered many. Peter dropped his net for fish but caught none. Peter washed his net as his sleepless night of labor ended. Then, Jesus approached. Jesus told Peter to take the boat back out and let his net down for a catch. Peter explained that he had done exactly that all night with no result... but that at Jesus's word, he would go back out.
It's difficult not to apply this to our own lives today. In our own way, we all have an empty net. We could spend our whole lives casting nets and pulling them back up empty. Even if we are consistent and dedicated and tireless in our labor. Even if stay up all night and wash our net in the early morning. We can do it until we grow weary and we will do it until we grow weary... there Jesus will meet us and invite us to go back out.
At Jesus' Knees My net is full but my prize is Christ
Jesus filled Peter's nets. He overfilled them. Peter's crew signaled for others to help with the bursting nets. Immediately: Action. Chaos, excitement, abundance. Noise. The tear of ripped nets. Fish tails slapping in the heap. Shouts to the other boats for assistance. Boats sinking under the weight of the catch. Men calling to one another, heaving the nets on board...but Peter...
Peter was not among them. Peter fell at Jesus's knees. Peter, whose main objective that night, whose livelihood was to catch fish, turned his eyes from the miracle to the one who performed it. The others were astonished by the miracle and their first response was to take hold of it. To grab it all, even if it sunk the boat. But Peter was astonished by Jesus. Not for all the fish in the sea would Peter take his eyes off of Him. For the other men in the boat, the reward was in the net. For Peter, Jesus was the reward.
Fishers of Men I cast my net for Holy purpose not personal prosperity
Jesus's purpose was not to make Peter a successful fisherman. Jesus's purpose is not to make us successful in our respective careers or areas of skill or passion. Jesus's purpose is to draw God's children back into His Kingdom. Any career, skill or passion is simply the means to accomplish the garnering of souls to Jesus. To fill the net with believers. To fish the lost and broken from the sea. To preach them back to life in whatever manner takes shape in each life.
Jesus explained this to Peter; Peter left everything and followed Him. The question is: who else will leave their own plan behind in order to pursue what God has planned? Who will choose to save their life by losing it for Jesus (Matthew 16:25)? Who will decrease so that He can increase (John 3:30)?