Discontented.
Bored, or apathetic.
Stuck in a pattern that feels less than life changing.
Do any of those describe your faith?
Sometimes it describes mine.
Is that okay to share with you? Because the last thing I ever want to do is to pretend that this beautiful faith of ours is without challenges.
Or to make you feel that because you’re in a place just like this, that something’s wrong with you.
This morning I turned everything off except worship music that gently wrapped like a tendril around my heart as I prayed this prayer:
Renew my awe in You
Let’s take a deeper look at verse 8 in our study:
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me–I’m too much of a sinner to be around you. Luke 5:8 NLT
When Simon pushed the boat into deeper water, he had no idea of what was about to happen. We aren’t told why he listened to Jesus. He may have pushed out the boat into deeper waters out of respect. Perhaps it was out of curiosity.
Or hope.
We don’t know, but when the boat nearly sank under the bounty, Simon shouted for James and John to join him. Imagine the two rugged fishermen rushing to join Simon, throwing their nets into the water. Now two boats are close to capsizing.
Suddenly this isn’t about the fish anymore.
It’s not about the lack of fish.
The abundance of fish.
Or the payday that this size of catch will bring.
All Simon can see is his humanity in light of the man sitting in his boat. He fell to his knees in awe.
This is the true miracle.
Awe produces a heart change as we grasp the joy of knowing Jesus for who He is.
Are you bored with your faith?
Have you found yourself in a place where ministry, busyness, apathy, or complicated faith or people are all that you can see?
You were led there out of obedience. You want to be a good mom. You want to love people. You want to make a difference. You say yes because you hope to be a “fisher of men.”
But it’s not about the fish. That’s the by-product of obedience or ministry.
If all we do is “do” than it becomes about us.
That’s why I had to stop this morning and fall to my knees before I could write one word to you.
Awe led Simon to a new joy in his faith. It does the same for you and me. It’s why we’ll dig deep all this week into what it means to rediscover the awe in our faith.
I can’t wait. Can you?
Suzie
In The Message, Luke 5:8-10 reads: Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon.
Q: Describe a time you were in awe of Jesus.
Q: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one factor that might have led to boredom or apathy in your faith.
Q: What is the difference between obeying Jesus and being devoted to Him?
Q: What does the word awe mean to you, in light of Luke 5:8?
Q: What word does the Psalmist link to awe in Psalm 65:8?
What hit me so close to home was in talking about “doing the right thing” which in turn prevented me from being close Jesus. Some forty plus years ago, I was the bread winner for my family. I prayed everyday and went to church when I could, but it was secondary to what I “needed” to do. Eventually we just stopped attending church.
But then……………..we were confronted with a potentially devastating crisis, and.I found that I needed to talk to talk to a priest. I found a church somewhat nearby, and found a wonderful priest to talk to. During the conversation, he asked why I wasn’t going to any church at the time. I told him that I did not have the time, and that I would not be a Sunday morning Christian ~ go to church Sunday morning, then live a life outside of it, doing whatever I pleased. I had to be involved and helping, and again, no time for that either.
So, as the Lord would have it, within about two weeks, I was overwhelmed with the need to go to church. Needless to say I was supposed to be there. With in about a month, I was co-chair of the Outreach committee and helping in a number of different areas. And guess what…….there was more than enough time. ::o} We were given many very hard challenges over the years, but it was through them that I could see His many miracles that surround us every day.
With that in my life, I am blessed to be awe all of the time.