"And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'" Luke 5:7-8 (KJV)

Google Maps is my friend when I drive to an unfamiliar place. It tells me exactly where I'm going and when I'll arrive.

I also like lists. A grocery list gets me in and out of the store quickly. A schedule tells me what to expect from my day. My yearlong planner maps out my goals.

While these are helpful in my everyday life, I usually don't have that luxury in my faith.

Sometimes, Jesus simply says, Come with me, Suzie, and I have no idea what the next step looks like, much less where the finish line ends. I don't know if I have everything I need or if I'm equipped for the journey.

My emotional reaction might look like this:

If You'll just tell me the plan (every part of it), I'll come with You.

Lord, if You'll assure me that I'm the right person for this, I'll go.

Just hand me the itinerary, and I'm Your girl.

In today's key verse, Simon Peter is exhausted after an all-night fishing expedition. He has just finished washing the heavy nets weighted with stones, when Jesus approaches.

Jesus asks Simon to put the boat out a little from shore, so Jesus could teach the crowds. Simon agrees.

A bit later, Jesus asks Simon to go fishing. Simon has just fished all night without results. He's exhausted, but because Jesus asks, he takes that step.

The abundance of fish is so great that it nearly capsizes Simon's and his fishing partners' boats.

Simon sinks to his knees and asks Jesus to leave him. It's not because he's afraid, but because he's in awe.

Come with me.

That was Jesus' invitation. Simon left his boat, his business and the fish behind to follow Jesus.

When we read this story, we often focus on the fish as the miracle, but Simon left the heap of fish behind. He understood that walking with Jesus was the real miracle.

In fact, following Jesus was the beginning of a lifetime of miracles for Simon.

While making plans and scheduling and doing our own thing is a natural response, Jesus is perched in our "boats" with a spectacular invitation.

He asks us to walk in faith with Him in our marriages, in the midst of disappointments, as we make plans and dream, in our relationships, in our anxious places and in every aspect of our lives.

Come with me.

Have you resisted that invitation? I have. I can look back and see that I resisted, only to discover that Jesus was trying to give me the greatest gift of His presence. He was trying to lead me out of my comfort to discover His plans for me.

Simon Peter was changed the day he decided to follow Jesus. He saw lame men leap to their feet. He walked on water. He went through hard places as well, but always with Jesus as his leader.

When Simon accepted the invitation, it changed him, and it changed his story. Once he might have been described as a man with salt on his cheeks as he fished all night. When all along, Jesus knew that Simon was a fisher of men.

Come with me.

That's the invitation for all of us who believe.

Jesus, the invitation to "come with You" is for me. I accept it. Right where I am. I may not know where You are taking me, but I trust You. Thank You for sitting in the "boat" of my life and walking with me every day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

***

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Luke 5:11, "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him." (KJV)

RELATED RESOURCES:

Imagine faith that changes every aspect of who you are. This is the faith that comes from saying "yes" to Jesus' invitation. Check out Suzie Eller's new book, Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads.

To connect with Suzie, stop by her blog today, where Suzie is offering a giveaway of her latest book, Come With Me.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

When you sense an invitation from Jesus in an area of your life how do you respond?

It's OK to acknowledge your doubts, for that's what you do in any healthy relationship. But this is where change takes place. Say "yes" when "no" wants to take root.

© 2016 by Suzie Eller. All rights reserved.