Simon Peter – a sinful man - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, o Lord.
Luke 5:8.

Simon Peter - a sinful man
On an earlier occasion Peter and other later apostles had personally made the acquaintance of Jesus of Nazareth. Now, however, they were to give up their means of earning their bread and accompany the Redeemer on His travels through the land. First of all, however, they had to get to know their own hearts, especially Peter, their spokesman.

Jesus was sitting in Peter's boat. After preaching, He told Peter, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Peter protested, understandably, for they had spent the whole night fishing and caught nothing. In broad daylight shallow water was the place for fishing not the middle of the lake. Should they really go there again and cast out the nets? It didn't sound very promising! Yet whatever Peter thought, he did what Jesus said, and suddenly the nets were full of fish (vv. 4-7).

Peter was amazed, even appalled. He had to acknowledge Jesus Christ's power over the whole creation, even over "the fish of the sea" (cf. Psalm 8:7-9). That Person of the Deity knew him through and through. Peter became aware, as never before, that he was a sinful man, which became evident in his thoughts, words and deeds. He knelt down, exclaiming, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, o Lord." The more one recognises the greatness of Jesus Christ as God, the more conscious one is of one's own weakness and sinfulness.

However, the Son of God is the Redeemer of all who trust Him, not just to forgive sins, but also to free them from the power of sin within them. Simon Peter was to experience that. Now he had come to know the Redeemer and himself much better, and he followed Him.

Today's reading: Joshua 17:1-18 · 1 Corinthians 14:1-12