'Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, teaching the people as they crowded around him to hear God's message. Near the shore he saw two boats left there by some fishermen who had gone to wash their nets. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to row it out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down in the boat to teach the crowd.
When Jesus had finished speaking, he told Simon, "Row the boat out into the deep water and let your nets down to catch some fish."
"Master," Simon answered, "we have worked hard all night long and have not caught a thing. But if you tell me to, I will let the nets down." They did it and caught so many fish that their nets began ripping apart. Then they signalled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. The men came, and together they filled the two boats so full that they both began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this happen, he knelt down in front of Jesus and said, "Lord, don't come near me! I am a sinner." Peter and everyone with him were completely surprised at all the fish they had caught. His partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were surprised too.
Jesus told Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you will bring in people instead of fish." The men pulled their boats up on the shore. Then they left everything and went with Jesus.'
Luke 5:1-11
The passage today shows what happened when Jesus, a pretty famous guy already, chose his first disciples. This would have been a bit like some really famous celebrity, like Taylor Swift or something, I don't know, choosing their closest friends. Now I don't know about you, but I bet everyone would be flocking to get chosen by this big celebrity - the cleverest, the most athletic and the best looking people in the area would be there. And guess who Jesus chose? A bunch of teenagers. Yes, that's right. Most of Jesus' disciples were almost definitely a teenager or in their early twenties. And these teenagers weren't the ones who had passed their exams with 100%. They were common, normal fishermen. Jesus chose a whole load of stinky teenagers who spent most of their time on a boat to be his closest friends and followers.
That tells me something about Jesus. He doesn't care who you are, or what you've done, or what your backstory is! You've always been against Christianity? Jesus doesn't care! You have shoplifted several times before? Jesus doesn't care! You failed all your exams and skived off school? Jesus doesn't care! You're gay? You're black? You think you're ugly? You think you're useless? Jesus doesn't care! Jesus can, and will, use you, no matter what.
I'm gonna put this thing I found off the internet here and you can read through it.
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
Peter denied Christ.
The disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
The Samaritan woman was divorced.
Zaccheus was too small.
Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer.
Lazarus was dead.
God can use you. Don't tell yourself he can't, that you're not ...... enough, because God will use you.
The passage says, 'Then they left everything and went with Jesus.' Jesus has a plan for you. He will use you in ways that you can't imagine. If you haven't yet made the decision to follow Jesus, or feel like you want to do it again, because believe me, I've made that decision loads of times and will probably do so again and again, this is the time. God will use you, right where you are, right now. Are you prepared to leave everything and go with Jesus?
Prayer
Dear Lord,
I know I have made mistakes. Sometimes I think stupid stuff about myself, like that I'm not ..... enough. Please remind me that you made me perfectly to fit the plan you have given to me. Help me to know that you will use me, and that you don't care about all the negative stuff I think about myself. Lord, I give my life to you.
Amen