O God, Who hast prepared for them that love Thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

--Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church

So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

--Luke 5.1-11 (NKJV)

Jesus calls the disciples to do something that seemed nonsensical to their tired and exhausted selves. Nonetheless, in obedient faith they followed his command, saw the Lord's grace at work--which far exceeded anything they could have imagined or expected--and were driven to worship.

Today's collect leads us to pray that this same work of grace would be manifested in our lives..."that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire." May it be to us as it was to St. Peter. Amen.

Commit Thou All Thy Griefs (Paul Gerhard)

Commit thou all thy griefs
And ways into His hands,
To His sure Truth and tender care,
Who earth and heaven commands:
Who points the clouds their course,
Whom winds and seas obey,
He shall direct thy wandering feet,
He shall prepare thy way.

Thou on the Lord rely,
So safe shalt thou go on;
Fix on His work thy steadfast eye
So shall thy work be done.
No profit canst thou gain
By self-consuming care;
To Him commend thy cause; His ear
Attends the softest prayer.

Thy everlasting Truth,
Father, Thy ceaseless Love,
Sees all Thy children’s wants, and knows
What best for each will prove.
And whatsoe’er Thou will’st,
Thou dost, O King of kings!
What Thy unerring Wisdom chose,
Thy Power to being brings.

Thou everywhere hast sway,
And all things serve Thy might;
Thy every act pure blessing is,
Thy path unsullied light.
When Thou arisest, Lord,
What shall Thy work withstand?
When all Thy children want Thou giv’st,
Who, who shall stay Thy hand?

Photo by Ihor Malytskyi on Unsplash