In Mathew 4:19,20 we read of Jesus calling Peter & Andrew to follow Him. “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” We see here that these brothers were fishermen and they were casting their nets. When Jesus told them to follow Him, they immediately left everything and followed Him. When the Lord convicts us of something that we need to leave, we should immediately repent and follow Him. This immediate obedience lead to remarkable changes in Peter’s life.
In Luke 5 we read of the instance where Simon Peter and his friends obeyed Jesus and were able to get a large amount of fish. We read here that these fishermen had toiled all night but were unable to catch any fish. These men were weary but they obeyed Jesus immediately. Are we like this or do we give excuses when we are tired? Another thing we see in Simon is his repentance and his realization that he was a sinner when he saw who Jesus was.
Luke 14:26 reads “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” These are the conditions for discipleship. We need to leave everything and follow the Lord and we need to die to our self daily. In verse 33 we read that we also need to leave all our possessions. We read of the rich young ruler in Mark 10. The condition that Jesus set for Him was to leave all his possessions in order to follow him. This young man was saddened because he couldn’t leave them. Do we have any such possessions or relationships that are hindering us from following Jesus? Nothing in this world should stand in the way of us following our Lord. In Mark 10:29-31 we read the promise of Jesus for those who have forsaken all for Him and for the gospel – They will receive hundred fold but there will also be tribulations.
Let us look into the life of Peter. In Mathew 16:21 onward we read of Jesus telling the disciples about His crucification. We read of a strong Peter who was rebuked by Jesus for forbidding Jesus to die in that way. Earlier in that chapter we read of the same Peter who had a revelation from God about Jesus. He was able to understand that Jesus was the son of God. Jesus gives him a great promise that “upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” We see that Peter followed Jesus closely but at one point of His life he denied Jesus 3 times in spite of receiving a warning from the Lord. He broke down at this point. This was the same Peter who walked on the water with Jesus in Mathew 14. When Peter looked at Jesus he was walking on the water but when his eyes were on the water he sank. When Peter doubted Jesus, he fell. Peter was so close to the Lord at times, and at times he fell. Are we like Peter? Are we in high spirits walking close to God at times and deny even knowing Him at other times? The reason for this is the lack of the Holy Spirit. In Acts we read of a Peter who is filled with the Holy Spirit. There is a drastic change in Peter. On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to a large crowd and 3000 people were added to the church. If we are obedient to God’s word, if we are ready to take up our cross daily and if we seek eagerly to be filled by the Holy Spirit we can see the change in our lives too! The resurrection power of Jesus is available for us also today. Through Peter, 3000 people were able to repent. This is the message for us also, repent! Let us repent from what God convicts us and come back to the Lord and follow Him. We see that the Peter who was a fisherman is able to catch souls for the Lord. Let us be encouraged by the change we see in Peter’s life. God can change us also to be fishers of men.
May God bless us all.
