Quiet Time Coaching Episode 495 | New Thing Series — Part 50 | “Peter’s Reward” | Malcolm Cox

Introduction
A new thing! I’m Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’

We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of the Apostle Peter. Today we explore Peter’s reward.

“He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:3-7 NRSV)

Peter’s Reward

  • Peter welcomes Jesus into his boat and hears him teach
  • Peter is reluctant to take fishing lessons from a carpenter
  • Peter is tired and frustrated
  • Nonetheless, Peter senses something different about Jesus and does what he suggests even though it makes no sense.
  • Peter experiences an extraordinary miracle. One which affected not only him, but his business partners.
  • Peter’s encounter with Jesus is visceral and memorable.

For Reflection
Peter already knows something about Jesus. They met because of his brother Andrew (John 1:35-42). However, as far as we know, this is the first time he has come face-to-face with the miraculous attributes of Jesus. Tomorrow we will talk about more of its effect on him, but today we reflect on Peter’s reward. What is the reward in this situation? Is it the promise of a bumper payday? I suggest not. More likely we are seeing a vision of Peter’s purpose. As the Word Biblical Commentary puts it:

“The miraculous catch…acts out in prophetic symbolism Simon’s call to catch people.”

Of course, Peter doesn’t get all this yet, but he soon will. For many of us, the calling to make disciples of all nations is perceived as a task, or perhaps a duty. A good task and duty, but nonetheless something like that. However, what if we view it as a reward? Somebody said to me years ago that the great commission, as it is called, might be better framed as the great permission. In other words, it’s not so much that we have to go and make disciples, as that we have the immense privilege of participating with God in the making of disciples. He invites us into his joyful work — that of saving as many as possible.

“Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”” (Luke 5:10 NRSV)

Why not take some time today to pray and ask God to create in you a sense of the way in which sharing our faith with those who are lost is a privilege, a joy and a reward?

Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

“Carpe Diem” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/