Luke 5

Scripture Focus:
“Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.”
— Luke 5:10b–11 (NRSVUE)

Reflection

By the lakeshore, an ordinary day turns extraordinary.
Fishermen are washing their nets after a long, fruitless night when Jesus steps into one of their boats. He teaches the crowds from the water, then turns to Simon and says, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Simon hesitates—he’s tired, skeptical, and sure that he knows how fishing works—but he obeys anyway. And that’s when the miracle happens: nets overflow, boats nearly sink, and hearts are forever changed.

In that moment, Simon realizes that he’s been seen—not just as a fisherman, but as someone Jesus can use for a far greater purpose. The invitation to “follow me” begins not in success, but in surrender.

Advent invites us to the same shoreline—to listen, to trust, and to go deeper. Following Jesus often means casting our nets again when we’d rather give up. It means stepping into something bigger than we can imagine, trusting that God can fill our emptiness with abundance.

Jesus still calls out across the waters of our daily lives: “Do not be afraid. Follow me.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You meet us in the middle of our ordinary routines—
in our work, our weariness, and our waiting.
When we feel empty or uncertain,
call us again to trust You.
Give us courage to push out into deep waters,
faith to cast our nets in hope,
and hearts willing to follow wherever You lead.
May our lives become vessels of Your grace.
Amen.

Practice

Take a few minutes today to reflect on where you sense God calling you to “put out into the deep.”
It might be a new act of service, a step toward reconciliation,
or simply trusting God with something you can’t control.

Write down one area of your life where you feel called to follow more closely.
Pray over it, and this week, take one small step in that direction—
a gesture of obedience that says, “Yes, Lord, I will follow.”

Copyright © 2025 Ronda Welander