From Master to Lord

Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." (Luke 5:5 NASB)

It's amazing how fast a heart can change. When Jesus told Simon to head out to the deep water, he was "epistatēs", or Master, to Simon. This is a Greek word for supervisor or overseer, and indicates recognition of some form of authority. One fishing net-full later, Jesus had become "kyrios" or the authority to whom Simon belonged. It is a word used to indicate a sovereign ruler as well as to indicate God Himself. 

Simon initially saw Jesus as a sort of professor. When Jesus entered his life with power, Simon was not only astounded, his eyes were opened to the reality of the Christ. In that instance, he was willing to pledge himself to Jesus as a possession of the King. 

To fully understand the significance of this, remember that Simon was a successful businessman. He was not in desperate straits looking for a rescue. He was certainly not looking for a new level of authority. He was accustomed to being the authority, and on his boat, his word was law. That is, until Jesus boarded the boat. When Jesus stepped on board, everything began to change, and when Simon obeyed in one little area, the action really began. 

That's what Jesus wants to do in all our lives. He wants to be more than a wise teacher. he wants to be the authority that directs, guides, leads. When we begin to obey, the action begins and the fun really starts! 

Today, pray for those first small steps of obedience that lead the way to a heart submitted and transformed by our Lord. Let your obedience be the example that shows the way.