.....repentance

 "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Luke 5:8

Are you playing Christianity or are you having an daily encounter with the living Christ? Peter was going about his work-day trying to earn a day’s wage in his fishing business. Jesus showed up on the shoreline after they’d had a bad day. They had caught no fish.

Jesus asked to use his boat by casting off the shoreline in order to teach the people. After Jesus used Peter’s business for His purposes, He turned to Peter and suggested he throw his nets out again. Peter, somewhat reluctant and argumentative, said in his hallmark attitude, "Been there, done that Master … " . How many times do you and I do the same thing? "Jesus doesn’t care about my work life. He only cares about the orphans and the poor," we say to ourselves.

When Peter’s nets are filled with fish — a strange awareness comes over him. "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’" Peter was overwhelmed at the personal love and power that was directed specifically at his need at the moment — his ailing business. It was more than he could handle. "God even cares about the condition of my business," Peter must have thought.

Whenever we move from playing Christianity to having a genuine encounter with the living Christ, we are confronted with our own humanity and sin compared to the unmerited love and power of Jesus Christ that is personally directed to us. It should bring us to our knees. It is an awesome experience to transition from religion to relationship. Life is never the same when you have a personal encounter with our Savior.

How about you? Do you need a personal encounter with Jesus today? Ask Him to reveal His power in your life and work today.

- david jeremiah