“When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.” Luke 5:11
Simon Peter was a successful fisherman. He had men in his employ. However, his real success came after an incident that I strongly doubt he could have ever predicted. You see, Simon threw away the manual. You know the manual I’m talking about. It’s the same one we are all given. We’re taught that to be successful in life you do things “by the book.” We have a lot of societal demands and expectations thrust upon us. When Jesus stopped by the Lake of Gennesaret and saw Simon’s boats, Simon’s life was about to radically change. Jesus gave him the opportunity to follow the manual and continue to be a good fisherman, or he could throw it away and become a fisher of men. Jesus gives you the very same choice.
You don’t have to walk away from your job like Simon did (but some of you might do just that). You walk away from the ideas you have about what success is and you allow God to lead the way instead. Throwing away the manual is a way of downsizing our egos and allowing God to give us the life He planned for us. It takes faith to “throw down your nets” as Simon did, and follow God. But for those who are faithful enough to do so, they find riches in life beyond measure.
What are some of your preconceived ideas that keep you from allowing God to lead the way? What societal pressures or expectations do you allow to override the plans God has for you? How might you become a fisher of men like Simon, and work for the glory of God, even in a small way? True success in life doesn’t come from living by the expectations of man. True success comes from living by the expectations God has for you. I highly doubt God cares if you drive a Mercedes and live in a big house and wear designer clothes. Those are the success measurements of man, not of God. What would you do with your life if you threw away the manual and followed God?
F.R.O.G. Practice: Take some time to discern how trapped you are in the expectations of men, versus how much you live your life by God’s plans for you. Pray that God helps you throw away the manual and so you can take up with Him, and allow Him to guide you. Let God shape you for the success He has planned for you.