A WORD FOR TODAY, December 15, 2025
Peggy Hoppes
We pray you have been blessed by this daily devotion. If you received it from a friend, you can see other devotions and studies by visiting our website at www.awordfortoday.org.
Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, December 15, 2025
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered him, ‘Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.’ When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.’” Luke 5:4-8, WEB
Jesus probably didn’t know much about fishing. He was probably a carpenter, but we don’t really know how much He knew about carpentry. He probably learned at the feet of His father, but did He ever work as a carpenter on His own? The scriptures do not tell us what happened to Jesus between the ages twelve and thirty. He probably followed His father into the business, and might have done well, but we don’t really know. Whether He was a carpenter or not, it is highly unlikely that Jesus understood the business of fishing. This is pretty obvious from Simon Peter’s response, “Hey, we’ve worked all night and didn’t catch anything. My experience tells me it is time to pack up, go home, rest and come back when the conditions are better.” You can almost hear him grumble under his breath, “What do you know about fishing?”
Yet, Simon Peter sees something in Jesus: authority, power, and control. He addressed Jesus as “Master,” a sign of respect and the recognition of Jesus’ right to command him. Peter might have heard Jesus speak, but the encounter on the shore seems random. “Hey, you with the boat, will you take me out a little so I can teach?” I can imagine Peter wanted to ignore Jesus’ advice. But he didn’t. He obeyed. He took Jesus out onto the water and listened as Jesus taught the crowd. Then Jesus told him to go fishing again. Despite the ridiculousness of the command, Peter obeyed.
And he was blessed by that obedience.
Jesus is our Master. He has the authority to command us to continue His work in this world. He has the power, which He passes to us, and He can have control if we let go and let Him. The question is whether or not we are willing to obey. Do we see Jesus as having the authority, power, and control worthy of our time and attention. Do we wonder whether He even knows what He’s talking about? Or do we see something in Him that causes us, like Peter, to do what He says no matter how ridiculous it might seem? He is Master, and He is the One who can make our life and our ministry a blessing to us and to the world.
A WORD FOR TODAY is posted five days a week – Monday through Friday. The devotional on Wednesday takes a look at the scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. A WORD FOR TODAY is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Word-for-Today-Devotional/339428839418276. Like the page to receive the devotion through Facebook. For information and to access our archives, visit http://www.awordfortoday.org.