Nov 11 – YOU WILL CATCH MEN !

“Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:10)

A deep spiritual experience of gaining souls for Christ, was waiting to happen in the life of Peter, who was just an ordinary fisherman by profession. From someone who was catching fish for livelihood, he started gathering souls for the Kingdom of God. When you go into deeper levels, God will assign you new and higher duties and responsibilities. It is because of the great expectation that He has on you that He is giving you progressively higher responsibilities.

Fishing is a worldly profession, whereas winning souls for the Kingdom of God is a spiritual mission. With worldly knowledge, you can catch fish. But with God’s wisdom, you can catch men or gain souls for the eternal kingdom. And in order to do that, God willed to equip Peter with deeper spiritual experiences and grant him the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

God’s first utterance to Peter is that he should not be afraid. This is an instruction and a promise of God. And then He says: “From now on – you will catch men”, which is His expectation from Peter.

Why should God tell Peter not to be afraid? Since Peter witnessed a mighty miracle that he has never seen in his whole life, Peter was naturally terrified. He started to think that he was not even worthy to stand in the presence of such a mighty God. He confessed to the Lord: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord”. When Simon humbled himself in fear, the Lord comforted him by saying: “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10).

Even today our Lord looks at you and asks you not to be afraid. Are you grieving in your heart that you are not able to live a good life, a pure and holy life for the Lord? Are you wondering why there should be so many trips and falls in your spiritual journey? Are you distressed that you are a sinful man? Our Lord will touch and change your life today. He is able to create a new beginning in your life and grant new strength to live a victorious and overcoming life. And you will become fishers of men for the Lord.

Lord who promised Simon Peter was able to do it in his life and transformed him. A simple fisherman was able to add souls in thousands for God’s Kingdom. There is no greater wonder than to lead a person to redemption in Christ. Dear children of God, seek and enter into deeper spiritual experiences and God will do mighty wonders through you.

Verse for further meditation: “Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.” (Psalm 36:6)