He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. (Luke 5: 2-3)

“It was luck. I was just the right person in the right place at the right time!”  I’m sure we’ve all heard people say that when asked about a success in their lives.  We may have uttered it ourselves as we’ve tried to stay humble amid praise from another.  

When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, He’s always the right person in the right place at the right time.  It’s wonderful what can be revealed when we focus not on how we can find Jesus, but on how Jesus is finding us.  Just look at the amazing story of Simon in Luke 5.

Simon is just a normal guy working a normal job.  He is on his boat, cleaning his fishing nets.  This is just “another day at the office”.  Simon didn’t show up that morning looking for his life to radically change. He wasn’t looking for Jesus. But Jesus was looking for him!

Jesus intentionally stepped into Simon’s boat that morning.  He asked Simon to put the boat out into the water while he continued to teach the people on the shore.  Jesus was working in that moment to create the right space for Simon to come to Him.

When Jesus told Simon to go out into the deeper water, Simon questioned the advice, but he acted.  He followed Jesus’s instructions and let down his net.  And he caught so many fish that his net began to break, and even with the help of another boat, the catch weighed so much both boats began to sink.  This is not only a miracle, but a metaphor for the mission Jesus had in mind for Simon.  

Yet Simon was still afraid to answer the call of Jesus, crying out, “I am a sinful man!” (V 8). Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” (V 11). And Simon left everything and followed him.  Jesus found him, and Simon went “all in”!

Spend time reflecting this week not on how you can find Jesus, but on the good news that Jesus is looking for you. Does that perspective change anything for you? Don’t focus on the “What’s next” but the “What’s now” and open that spot on your boat for Jesus.

If you'd like to read or re-read the overview/summary of this week's passage, you can find it here.