Have you ever wondered what your calling is? Where does Jesus want you to be?  Maybe you worry about your children, are they listening to God’s call on their life?  Or perhaps a friend, neighbor or colleague that you have prayed for, when will Jesus reveal His calling to them?

We all have a calling on our life that is designed uniquely for us.  But how and when that calling comes to fruition is outlined in Jesus’ storybook of our life – which we are not privy to.  We can find peace and solace in Luke 5:1-11, a beautiful portrayal of Simon’s calling.  Simon’s story begins with Jesus speaking to a crowd of followers on the shore of Lake Gennesaret.   I find it interesting that Simon was “washing his net” implying that either Simon was half-heartedly listening or perhaps not listening at all.

In our everyday lives, do you think we are too busy “washing our nets” preventing us from listening to Jesus?  Are we so busy completing our “to do” list of tasks that we don’t make time to sit at the feet of Jesus to listen?  Or perhaps we are not disciplined enough or too self-absorbed to even have the desire to listen.  Maybe we are enjoying what the world is currently offering us, and we are pleased with our “creature comforts”, such that we are disinterested.  Jesus is always moving in our lives us, we just need to be engaged to recognize Him.  Jesus physically moved closer to Simon in Luke 5:3 “He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon”.

Jesus didn’t ask Simon to bring the boat to Him.  Jesus walked up to the boat and got right in there with Simon.  Jesus didn’t ask for permission. Jesus simply got on board.  I love this about Jesus.  I mean there are many things that I love about Jesus, but in this instance, Jesus went to Simon.  Jesus will also come to us, our children, family, friends, neighbors and colleagues too.  When we have our noses buried into the mundane, everyday aspects of life Jesus walks right in according to his perfectly planned timing.

I wonder, was Simon taken aback; did he feel honored that Jesus chose his boat?  Was he tired from fishing and wished Jesus had picked someone else’s boat?  We don’t know, but what we do know is that Jesus asked Simon to push the boat out a little and Simon obliged.  Jesus had begun to capture the attention of Simon.  Voluntarily or involuntarily at this point, Simon was now engaged.

Doesn’t this cause you to pause? Has Jesus called you to do a small task?  Did you oblige?  Has He progressively asked you to do more, extend yourself more, perhaps even challenge you to be obedient, in the face of adversity or the seemingly impossible?  Do you wonder if the tasks will lead you to a clearer picture or revealing of where you have been called?  Do you get frustrated and wonder what is the point?  Will you/ did you obey, in spite of how you felt or what you thought?

Jesus now having Simon’s attention, concludes his teaching to the crowd.  Make no mistake, Jesus is far from being done with Simon.  Jesus acts deliberately and methodically with each next step intensifying, digging deeper with Simon, penetrating his heart – all unbeknownst to Simon.  Jesus is faithful and determined with all of us, just as he was with Simon.

Jesus enters the boat, then Jesus asks a small task, now he is going to ask a larger task.  To Simon, this task seemed most unreasonable and was devoid of any explanation.  Jesus asks Simon to push the boat into the deep waters and drop the nets.  It is clear at this point that Simon did not know who he was talking to.  Simon’s response, verse 5 “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.”  Simon’s instinct was to voice his complaint, after all, Simon was a seasoned fisherman.  He knew the most productive times of day to reel in a hull of fish.  We must confess at this point, that we have all complained to God when we have heard the Holy Spirit prompting us to do something we don’t want to do.  Maybe we have even chosen to ignore the request and do what pleases us instead.

Let us not judge Simon too harshly, for on the heels of his skepticism Simon’s next statement was one of obedience. Luke 5:5 “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  At this point Simon has already seen his sick mother-in-law healed, it would be reasonable that he has an idea, at the very least that Jesus is more than an ordinary man.  I wonder if that is what prompted his obedience?

Regardless of what motivated Simon, the fact remains Simon was obedient to the calling.  I am inclined to believe that whatever Simon observed up until this moment: the experience of the unsuccessful catch the previous night, the ups and downs of being a fisherman, all were designed to lead Simon to this point in time.  I believe fully that Jesus set Simon up for a positive response, an obedient response, so Jesus could reveal himself to Simon in the very next moment.

Don’t miss out on verse 6 – “when they had done so”.  Simon had a role to play in this miracle, he had to drop the nets. Just as it is with us, we have to do our part to complete the calling.  Even when it makes no sense to us.  We are asked to be obedient.

Verse 6 continues “…they caught a large number of fish” – and there it is – the miracle that hooked Simon. That experience must have been, well… amazing!  They must have been soaking it in, looking at one another in astonishment, maybe laughing in disbelief.  Simon processed all that transpired and realized that Jesus was fully and completely responsible.  In that moment, Simon was emotionally undone.  He understood how unworthy he was to have such a great outpouring bestowed on him.  He knew he was a sinner, standing before his Savior.

After confessing his unworthiness, he tells Jesus to go away.  Will you just look at how Jesus responds?  Not taking Simon at face value of his words, he sees the repentant heart of his servant Simon.  He addresses the fear of Simon’s heart immediately and says “Don’t be afraid”.  I mean truly, the Savior of the world, consoles Simon first and foremost, who knows a greater love?

Not only does Jesus fully understand the heart of Simon, He reveals “from now on, you will catch men.”  Jesus made known to Simon the very calling he was created to fulfill.

Simon “left everything and followed him”.  Simon didn’t cash in on the lottery ticket he just won.  Indeed “he left everything” trading it all to trust in and follow Jesus.  This would mark the beginning of the fulfillment of Simon’s calling.

We are all unworthy, but Jesus loves us, refuses to be ignored and will make himself front and centre in the lives of His children, in His time, His way and according to His plan.  He will not be ignored.

Jesus showed up in the life of Simon in a powerful, irrefutable way, unlike any other disciple.  He knew His child, He knew what He needed, He knew how to get him to listen, He knew how to capture his heart, his mind and his devotion.  Simon, later renamed Peter, became the leader of the disciples.

Thank you, Jesus for reassuring us that we all have a calling.  You never leave us where we are, never abandon us even when we are engrossed in our own selfish world.  Help us to recognize you in all your ways, the slow, subtle, and deliberate ways and the immediate, profound, and irrefutable ways.  Thank you for your faithfulness to complete the good work in us, which you have already begun.  Amen.