Called from Ordinary Life

Where Work Meets Worship

Reading: Luke 5:1–11

“Because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 

Luke 5:5

Jesus often bypasses grand temples to find us right where we are—in the middle of the workday, surrounded by the tools of our trade and the weight of our responsibilities. In Luke 5, He meets Peter not in a moment of spiritual triumph, but in the exhaustion of a failed night’s labor. As Peter washes his empty nets, Jesus steps into his boat and turns a place of business into a place of revelation. What looks ordinary to us becomes sacred when Christ is present, reminding us that our routines are never “just” routines to Him.

When Jesus tells Peter to push out into deep water, it defies human logic. Peter is the professional; he knows the rhythms of the sea, and he knows the fish are not biting. Yet he chooses obedience over expertise: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will.” In that moment, trust triumphs over discouragement. Following Christ always involves learning to believe His word more than our instincts, His promise more than our past disappointments.

This story speaks directly into our own crowded days—our inboxes, chores, meetings, and unfinished projects. Christ still calls us in the middle of ordinary life, inviting us to offer our efforts to Him. When we place our “empty nets” in His hands, He fills them with meaning and purpose. Peter leaves everything not because his work was worthless, but because he has discovered something greater. Jesus does not interrupt our lives to diminish them; He enters them to transform them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we offer You our ordinary days, our work, and our weariness. Teach us to trust Your word beyond our comfort and calculations. Help us to follow Jesus with willing hearts, believing that You can use our simple obedience for Your glory. Amen.