When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Devotion based on Luke 5:8-11

Jesus called Peter to tell people about the forgiveness and eternal life he had come to win for them. It was an unlikely choice at best. Peter was not a biblical scholar. He didn’t have a prestigious job or a position of honor and influence. He was a fisherman. More than that, he was a sinner, which should have disqualified him from service to a perfect God.

Like Peter, Christians know their sins and failures, yet Jesus speaks the same comforting words: “Don’t be afraid.” He assures his followers that his sacrifice covers their sins and restores their relationship with God. This personal experience of forgiveness is what makes Christians uniquely qualified to share the good news about Jesus.

Peter experienced Jesus’ forgiveness repeatedly. As he shared the good news of that forgiveness with others, he could draw on that experience.

Years ago, I was contemplating LASIK eye surgery. I was reassured when my ophthalmologist told me she had undergone the same procedure. Knowing that she understood my concerns and had trusted the process herself gave me confidence to move forward. In the same way, Christians can share the gospel because they have experienced Jesus’ forgiveness firsthand.

If you feel unqualified to share the gospel, remember that you don’t share the good news because of your credentials but because of Christ’s work in your life. You’ve received his mercy and grace, and that personal connection allows you to speak with authenticity and compassion.

Prayer:

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.