Tues., 11/21/17 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 knew himself to be a sinner, and so he implores his Redeemer to "depart from [him]." Thankfully, Christ did *not* do as Peter suggested. If our Lord Jesus "departed" from us every time we sinned, we would never have Him near us, ever.

True humility—which Peter was only to learn later on—is not demonstrated in seeking Christ's "departure" because of the commission of sins. Rather, it is begging His abiding with us still, despite those sins. [Peter does, however, do three things very well here (in the verse above): he worships Christ, he con-fesses his own 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"]