The older I grow, the more I slow down in my Bible reading.  Too often I've sprinted past diamonds chasing an elusive Bible plan.  Here's a diamond of a story that I've grasped fast in my hand last week.  

Like many such stories, it's dangerously too familiar, but like a diamond illuminated by light, if I take time to examine it, each time I turn it, I find a new facet worth pondering.

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." 

And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 

A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.   When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me—I'm too much of a sinner to be around You."

 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.  His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.  

Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!"         -Luke 5:4-10, NLT

John Reilly, The Miraculous Draught of Fish

Three things to dwell upon...

1. Let your life net down again, even if discouraged by failure:

"The word “Nevertheless” introduces THE GRAND CONTRAST AND ANTITHESIS OF THE TEXT. Gather into one all the heads and threads of discourse—we are weary of the monotony of life, weary of the perpetual round of doing and being, disappointed with the result of life, with what we are to-day in Thy sight—beings occupying a point and not more, between two eternities. Nevertheless, at Thy word, because Thou speakest in our ears today and sayest, “Launch out into the deep, the inscrutable future, the future of time and of eternity”; yes, at Thy word—otherwise we were languid and depressed and disappointed and could not—at Thy word we will once again, to-day, let down the net." -Dean Vaughan

2.  Be inspired by the noble actions of faithful brothers: 

"When you see a grand action, it is a call to you to imitate it; when you hear of a noble deed, it is a call to you to correct whatever of littleness or meanness may be in your own soul; when you see others walking with God, it is a call to you to join them, and to walk even as they. Sympathetic natures need no explanation at such times; they take in at once the meaning of the voices which they hear as they go on through life. Simon Peter felt what he saw; he felt how it bore on him; and feeling it, instantly and profoundly, his first motion was to draw back in alarm, and to pray the Lord to depart from him."-Morgan Dix, D. D.

3.  See yourself through His eyes first, then you may benefit others:

"That the knowledge of self, obtained through the discovery of Christ, is one of the main elements of power in seeking to benefit others. It is not a little remarkable that when God has called some of His greatest servants to signal service He has begun by giving them a thorough revelation of themselves, through the unveiling to them of Himself. Thus, when He appeared to Moses at the bush, the first effect was that Moses trembled and durst not behold, and the ultimate issue was that he cried, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent:... but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." Peter recognised the deity of Jesus through the miracle; but the light of that Godhead did, at the same time, flash into his own heart, and reveal him unto himself as he had never had himself revealed unto him before. Then came the Master’s "Fear not," with its soothing influence; and thus, through his discovery of himself, and his knowledge of his Lord, he was prepared for his apostolic service."  -Sermon's Bible Commentary