Thurs., 11/21/13 Devotion (Lk. 5:8)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 5:8, where we read these words:

"When Simon Peter saw it [the miraculous catch of fish], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' "

Here is an irony: Peter knows himself to be a sinner, so he implores his Redeemer to "depart from [him]." Thankfully, Christ did *not* do as Peter suggested. If our Savior "departed" from us every time we sin-ned, we would never have Him near us, ever.

True humility--which Peter was to learn more fully later--is not in seek-ing Christ's "departure" because of the commission of sins. Rather, it is begging His abiding with us, despite them. Peter does do three things very well here: he worships Christ, he confesses his sinfulness, and he calls Jesus "Lord."

[Puritan quote of the day: "There are no sins God's people are more subject to than unbelief and impatience." --Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]