“For he was astonished, and all that were with him,
at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.”
(Luke 5:9)
When conscience is awakened, the human heart naturally tends to move away from Christ instead of drawing near Him. Instead of running toward grace, guilt tends to distance itself from it. Instead of embracing mercy, a sinful soul questions its own fitness to receive it. Seeing our unworthiness, we conclude that we must keep our distance, when in truth our very unworthiness is our strongest argument to come.[1]
This response grows out of a misunderstanding of grace. The sinner imagines that he must first make himself better, more worthy, more prepared, before he may approach God. He thinks that his sin disqualifies him from grace, when in reality it is the very reason he stands in need of it. But as a result he delays, hesitates, and shrinks back, as though Christ were a Judge to be avoided rather than a Savior to be embraced.
A perfect example of this from Scripture is found in Luke 5. As usually happened, a huge crowd of people had followed Jesus to hear Him teach. So as He stood beside the Lake of Gennesaret, He noticed two fishing boats that had been left on the shore while their owners went and washed their nets.
When Simon returned to his boat, the Lord got in the boat and asked him to push out a bit into the lake so the people could better hear Him. And then, at some point, the Lord told Simon to push on out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch. Simon contested, saying “we’ve fished all night and caught nothing.” Yet he did as the Lord commanded. At that moment the nets filled to the point of breaking. And as they pulled the multitude of fish into the boat, the boat nearly sank it was so heavy. On realizing who this was in his boat, Simon Peter fell to his knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
When we are convicted, even believers often grow distant in prayer, cold in affection, and slow in seeking God. Instead of moving toward Him for cleansing, we draw back in shame and discouragement. But Christ receives the unworthy, pardons the guilty, and comforts the brokenhearted. This is, indeed, why He came. So to flee from Him because of sin is to misunderstand who He is and to undervalue His gift of grace.
We must remember that when sin is felt most deeply, we must run toward Christ. When our conscience trembles, we must draw nearer. When unworthiness is keenly felt, grace must be sought more earnestly.
For Christ does not cast away those who come to Him in truth, but receives them, comforts them, and restores them.
Contemplations:
- Fleeing from Christ in conviction. Lord, I confess that when my conscience has been awakened to see my sin, I have often drawn back from You instead of drawing near. Like Peter, I have been ready to say, “Depart from me,” when I should have clung to You. Forgive me for this sinful retreat from the only Savior I have.
- Seeking worthiness in myself. Father, I confess that I have looked for some worthiness in myself before coming to You. I have imagined that I must be better before I seek grace, and that my sin disqualifies me from mercy. Forgive me for this pride and unbelief.
- Delaying repentance and faith. Lord, I confess that I have delayed coming to You, lingering in doubt, hesitation, and discouragement, instead of fleeing to Christ without delay. Forgive me for every moment lost in unbelief.
- Dishonoring Christ’s grace. Father, I realize that by drawing back from You, I have dishonored the sufficiency of Christ. I have acted as though His grace were not enough, or His mercy not free. Forgive me for undervaluing the Savior whom You have given.
Prayer (Confession)
Merciful and gracious God, I come before You confessing not only my sins, but my sinful response to them. When my conscience has been awakened and my guilt made known, I have often withdrawn from You instead of drawing near.
I confess that I have feared You wrongly, as though You were unwilling to receive me, rather than trusting You as the God of all grace. I have hesitated to come, delayed repentance, and allowed doubt to keep me at a distance.
Lord, forgive me for looking within for something that might make me acceptable, when I should have looked only to Christ. I have measured my fitness by my own condition instead of trusting in Your mercy.
Help me come boldly to the throne of grace. When my sin is greatest in my sight, let Your mercy be greatest in my faith. When my conscience trembles, let me not flee, but draw nearer to You for pardon and peace.
Teach me to rest wholly in Christ, who receives sinners, forgives iniquity, and comforts the brokenhearted. Let me never again draw back from Him because of my sin, but rather come more quickly and more earnestly.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your free Spirit.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Luke 5:9:
Luke 4:36; Acts 3:10; Acts 2:7; John 4:27
[1] Martin Luther, “Sermon XXV: God’s Providence and Care for His Children,” in Sermons on the Most Interesting Doctrines of the Gospel (London: James Duncan, 1830), 326-329.
