In Luke 5:1–7, Jesus encounters Peter and Andrew at the Lake of Gennesaret, not by chance, but on purpose. After a disappointing night of fishing, they are preparing for the upcoming night. I would assume that they had experienced similar nights before, but they knew that one night’s disappointment did not mean they would give up.
They prepared for the next night by washing their nets. Washing nets was not just pouring water over them. The process involved carefully going over every part of the net, removing debris that may have become caught in it, and mending any tears that could affect its use. This task required diligence and attention to detail. Their nets were important to their livelihood as fishermen. If they didn’t take care of their nets, their nets wouldn’t take care of them.
What is the condition of our “nets”? Do they need to be washed? Are they filled with debris? In 1 Peter 3:15 it says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Peter is saying, be prepared.
Jesus instructed Peter to thrust out and let down his nets. Peter’s immediate response spoke to his willingness to heed the words of Jesus, despite his own knowledge of fishing, his familiarity with the lake, and his exhaustion from fishing all night. Against everything Peer knew and felt, he let down the same nets he had been preparing to use for another night’s work, received a miraculous catch, and ultimately left it all to follow Jesus.
Jesus saw men who would not give up when faced with disappointment and were preparing themselves to go out again and face the unknown. They were persistent in their work and disciplined in their preparation, but most of all, they were willing to listen and obey. It was these qualities that Jesus would use to shape them into becoming fishers of men.
God works on us before He works through us. Just as Peter and Andrew had to prepare their nets before they could receive the catch, we must allow God to prepare our hearts for the work He is calling us to do.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be prepared for the work He has given us to do. That preparation means allowing God to remove the debris of doubt, fear, pride, or distraction from our lives so that we can be effective in His service. Before Jesus made His disciples fishers of men, He taught them to trust Him, listen to Him, and obey Him.
Jesus is calling us, right where we are. He can use us to be “fishers of men” in our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our communities. His invitation is the same today as it was for Peter and Andrew: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Are we prepared to listen to Him, to push out into the deep, and let down our nets? There is a great catch awaiting those who follow Him.
