Walking in Faith

Luke 5:1-11 and John 1:3-42

List biographical details of Peter. In what ways do you see yourself in Peter?

Biographical details:

• Fisherman (vv. 2,3)
• Trusting (v.5)**
• Willing to depend on others for help (v.7)
• Sinful (v.8)**
• Aware of the Lord’s presence (v.8)
• Willing to leave everything to follow the Lord (v.11)
• Brother of Andrew (v.40)
• Simon, Son of John (v.42)

** Ways that I am like Peter

Peter followed Jesus voluntarily. But how had Jesus demonstrated that he was greater than Peter and worth following? In your own words, how did Peter respond to Jesus’s authority?

After a long night of fishing and catching nothing, Jesus took them out to cast their nets once more, and they hauled in so many fish that it was causing the nets to rip and their boats to sink!! Jesus demonstrated to them that he was Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Provides), and told them that he would make them fishers of men.

Peter recognized Jesus for who He was and responded to His authority by falling to his knees and declaring himself not worthy to be in the Lord’s presence because he was such a sinful man. But that was the beauty of the Messiah – men like Peter were exactly why He was sent!!

Can you think of any who have such a limited view of Jesus, that they don’t see the point in following him? How can you help them to see Jesus as he really is? (It may be that that they are so proud and so blind that they are unable to recognize something of this greatness). Pause to pray for them now.

So many…! I always tend to think of people who don’t view the Bible as accurate and historical, so they don’t believe that most of the Gospel written about him is actually true. They see him as just a good teacher, a moral person, someone to model ourselves after. The one common thread that that I’ve noticed in these situations (true or not) is that they have either been so turned off by “Bible thumpers” trying to cram righteousness down their throats that they’ve turned-heal and headed in the exact opposite direction, or that they’re very scientific people who need to see cold, hard fact and mathematical certainty to accept something as truth.

The only way that I know to help those kinds of people see Jesus as he really is is by living my life for Him, by turning to Jesus during times of struggle and letting others know that no matter what happens in my life, I know that Jesus is my rock and my salvation. On the outside looking into our lives right now, I can see how someone might think that things are pretty bleak right now (with some of the ways that the enemy has attacked us in the past few months), but I only count these things as blessings from the Lord!! God has been continually blessing us in so many ways, and changing our hearts to see the good in a bleak situation. And I praise Him for that, and hope that others can see God’s glory shine through us during these kinds of times. That is how I try to help people see Jesus for who he really is!!