A lot of profound spiritual lessons in today's reading! I love in Luke 5 how we see that Jesus calls the disciples to serve Him at the height of their fishing career... right after they had just caught this huge catch of fish. He was testing their allegiance and love, and often the same test happens today!
Desire of Ages has these comments: "To Matthew in his wealth, and to Andrew and Peter in their poverty, the same test was brought; the same consecration was made by each. At the moment of success, when the nets were filled with fish, and the impulses of the old life were strongest, Jesus asked the disciples at the sea to leave all for the work of the gospel. So every soul is tested as to whether the desire for temporal good or for fellowship with Christ is strongest.
Principle is always exacting. No man can succeed in the service of God unless his whole heart is in the work and he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. No man who makes any reserve can be the disciple of Christ, much less can he be His colaborer. When men appreciate the great salvation, the self-sacrifice seen in Christ’s life will be seen in theirs. Wherever He leads the way, they will rejoice to follow. (DA 273)
I also love the story of how Jesus healed the paralytic let down through the roof. It wasn't because of the paralytic's faith, it was because of THEIR FAITH... the faith of the friends. How many people do we know today paralyzed by the effects of sin? Some are so paralyzed they cannot even move. They cannot even cry out for help. They can't get to the Savior. But because of us, their friends, because of our faith and our intercession... God can work and He will work! Let's continue to stand in the gap for those that cannot stand for themselves. God hears every sincere prayer and as we are told in Great Controversy p. 525, "God will grant us in answer to the prayer of faith that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask."
Tomorrow's Reading: Neh. 1-2 and Ps. 78:1-37
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