They Forsook All, and Followed Him


How did Peter, a sinful man (Luke 5:8), go from being a fisher of fish to a fisher of men? How is it that he and others could forsake all to follow Christ? I believe the answer comes as we look at the invitations given by the Lord to Peter. 

Peter had been out fishing, toiling all the night, and taking nothing in (Luke 5:5). He had been working on his own with no success. 

Then entered Jesus. 

With simple invitations, the Savior invited Peter to act in faith. First, He asked Peter to "thrust out a little from the land" (Luke 5:3). Then, He asked Peter to "launch out into the deep" with a follow up invitation to "let down [his] nets for a draught" (Luke 5:4). Peter, despite being tired and maybe a little doubtful, acted in faith and did as the Savior asked. This act of faith led Peter to witnessing a miracle, the nets were filled, and they were filled so full, that the nets brake (Luke 5:6). Peter was astonished (Luke 5:9), He received for himself a personal witness of Jesus Christ, and when he "saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees (Luke 5:8).

Like Peter, we are all invited to follow Jesus Christ, but we will never prioritize Jesus or His gospel, forsake all to follow Him, if we have not yet gained a personal witness of Jesus Christ and what He can do for us. 

We are all invited by Jesus Christ to:

THRUST OUT - small actions that lead to great things

LAUNCH INTO THE DEEP - go deeper in study, action, changing, building relationship with Jesus Christ

LET DOWN OUR NETS - act in faith, even when we doubt, or what we are asked to do doesn't make sense

We are invited to act in Faith.

Like Peter, following Jesus - living the gospel, repenting, being baptized and renewing our commitment to Him weekly, enduring to the end, forsaking all - becomes our immediate response when we have gained for ourselves a testimony of Him. 

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