Total Commitment
Devotions for Growing Christians
Total Commitment
Luke 5:3-5 - “Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.””
Read the rest of the account in Luke 5:1-11.
If you’re a Christian, your church leaders and mentors have urged you towards “total commitment to Jesus.” But what does that phrase even mean?
Total commitment
Total commitment means that Jesus is Lord in every area of our lives. He’s in charge on Saturday night as well as Sunday morning. He’s Lord of our bodies as well as our brains. He’s in control of all we own and cherish. He’s directs our careers and our hobbies. Are we totally committed to Jesus Christ? Is He Lord of all in our lives?
At the beginning of Luke 5, Peter was a fisherman washing his nets on the beach. Eleven verses later, Peter had dropped everything to follow the Lord! The miracle of the great catch of fish changed Peter’s life. The steps of commitment that we see in Peter are steps that growing Christians must take as well.
Getting involved
The first step is getting involved. How did Peter get involved? He simply let Jesus use his boat. Luke 4:38 indicates that Peter already knew Jesus, but until now he was content to hear the Word while continuing his normal way of life (v1-2). This is a great illustration of many Christians these days. Do they know the Lord? Yes! Are they willing to listen to the Word of God? Yes! But there’s not much change in their lifestyle. In fact, in some ways it may be hard to differentiate between them and the average unbeliever. They’re just trying to get ahead in this world… busy "washing their nets" and looking ahead for a bigger catch, while just barely within hearing distance of the Lord.
Peter took a step in the right direction. He turned his boat over to the Lord. We should be willing to do the same. We should turn over what we own to the Lord for His use. Our things, our time, our talent. Are we willing to share our vehicles, our yards, and our homes for use in the Lord’s work – even if our things might suffer a little wear & tear from people who need to come to Jesus?
Are we willing to give up our time for the Lord? What about that person who needs love and attention – the one who keeps disrupting our schedule and draining our free time? Are we willing to invest our abilities, talents and gifts? Are our favorite sports and hobbies available for the Lord to use? Total commitment to the Lord involves “turning over our boats" for the Lord’s use.
Stepping out in faith
The next step in total commitment is to "push it out into the water" (v3). It’s one thing to take what we own and make it available for the Lord, but it’s another thing to faithfully step out from the security of the shoreline. Let’s not just make our homes available for an occasional Bible study - let’s actually start and host a Bible study! Let’s not just make our weekends available for the Lord - let’s actually teach a class at our church! Let’s not just give to others for mission work, let’s actually spread gospel ourselves! Pushing out from the security of the shore takes faith and courage. Risk and sacrifice are involved, but that's what stepping out in faith is all about.
Jesus didn’t force Peter, He simply asked him (v3). The Lord could have walked out on the water without the use of any boat - but He wanted Peter to join in the action. He chose to teach people while sitting in his boat. In this event, God is teaching us that He delights to use us if we just step out in faith. Total commitment to Jesus includes being willing to "push it out into the water."
No turning back
There's another step toward total commitment in verse 4: Peter was told to "launch into the deep." This is total dependence on the Lord. No more land. No more shallow water. Commitment like this, in many ways, is the point of no return. Our future is no longer planned with the security of "solid ground" ahead. Our field of work will be determined by God's will for our lives.
It’s no longer a question of what field will give us the greatest return, security, peace, or advancement in this world. It’s now a matter of all my life being subject to the Lordship of Christ - my education, career, choice of spouse… Are we still playing in the shallow water, with only token efforts in Christian commitment? Or have we launched out into the deep?
It’s in the deep water that we experience the Lord's power. We learn that He really does provide for our needs in amazing ways! We may "work all night" to make it in this life and still "catch nothing" (v5). But those who are totally committed to the Lord don’t worry about their needs in life. They know that if they seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first, these things will be provided (Matthew 6:33).
In deep waters we learn to worship. Jesus is no longer just "a Friend we in our lives." He’s God! When Peter experienced the Lord's power in the deep, he was not only amazed (v9), he fell down before Jesus and confessed, "I am a sinful man, O Lord." The more committed we are to Jesus Christ, the more we become aware of our sinfulness and His holiness.
It’s a blessing to know that the Lord Jesus doesn’t depart from us if we lack total commitment, but He encourages and transforms us. "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching men” (v10). Peter had reached the point of no return. He left everything and followed his Lord.
Yes, there would be future failures in Peter's life. Total commitment does not mean perfection. Total commitment is a matter of taking myself off the throne In my life, and putting Christ there instead.
How committed are you to Jesus Christ? Have you "pushed out into the water"? Have you "launched out into the deep"? Or are you hanging out on the beach? Total commitment means trusting Jesus with everything, and making Him Lord of all.
- Dave Reid
(Updated 2022, Ron Reid)