A Step at a Time

Read Luke 5:1-11

The patience of Jesus Christ is a wonder to behold. When He entered Peter’s boat, He knew just what HE would do. But He had to deal with Peter a step at a time, just as He must deal with us. Note Christ’s commands to Peter:

Thrust out a little. Here Christ was asking for the fishing boat, but He converted it into a pulpit for preaching. It is like that Peter sat in the boat with some impatience, wondering how long the sermon would last! Sometimes God moves us into trying situations just to get us to listen to His voice. Peter was a captive listener; he had nowhere else to go!

Launch out into the deep. This second command demanded more faith on Peter’s part, and it’s no wonder that he argued, “We’ve been fishing all the night! It’s not likely we’ll catch fish at this hour!” But the Lord knew what He was doing. Peter had given Him the boat; now Jesus wanted the fishing nets. And when Peter obeyed, God blessed them with a record catch!

Follow me! This was the supreme command, the one for which the first two were but preparation. Peter had thrust out a little and launched into the deep; but now he had to “sell out” and give all to Christ. It was not enough to give Him the fishing boat and the fishing nets; Peter had to give Him the fisherman!

Jesus deals with us a step at a time, a command at a time, always leading to a supreme hour of faith, and decision. If we obey Him in the little things of life, we will be ready when that “Follow me!” sounds in our souls. Let Jesus lead you and use you a step at a time.

(Copyright, Warren W. Wiersbe. First appeared in Thoughts for Men on the Move. May not be copied or reproduced without express written permission of the author.)

Warren Wiersbe

Dr. Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) was an internationally known Bible teacher, author, and conference speaker. He graduated in 1953 from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. While attending seminary, he was ordained as pastor of Central Baptist Church in 1951 and served until 1957. From September 1957 to 1961, Wiersbe served as Director of The Literature Division for Youth for Christ International. From 1961 to 1971 he pastored Calvary Baptist Church of Covington, Kentucky south of Cincinnati, Ohio. His sermons were broadcast as the “Calvary Hour” on a local Cincinnati radio station. From 1971 to 1978, He served as the pastor of Moody Church in Chicago 1971 to 1978. While at Moody Church he continued in radio ministry. Between August 1979 and March 1982, he wrote bi-weekly for Christianity Today as “Eutychus X”, taught practical theology classes at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and wrote the course material and taught a Doctor of Ministry course at Trinity and Dallas Seminary. In 1980 he transitioned to Back to the Bible radio broadcasting network where he worked until 1990. Dr. Wiersbe became Writer in Residence at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids and Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. In his lifetime, Dr. Wiersbe wrote over 170 books—including the popular Be series, which has sold over four million copies. Dr. Wiersbe was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).