At times we can become so consumed with the tasks before us that we are unaware of how far we have moved from where Christ wants us to be. Peter had fished all night without success. He was no novice. He knew how to fish on that small sea. Yet he caught absolutely nothing. All through the Gospels Peter had done what his Lord had told him to do. As a result, he always experienced success. But this time Peter had come up with his own plan. We are not sure why he went fishing. Perhaps he had the best of motives. But it is clear his Lord had not guided him to do so. Jesus was on mission to redeem a lost and hurting world. Peter had become focused on fishing for fish, something Jesus had taken him away from.
As soon as Peter realized that he was in a boat while his master was on the shore, he quickly rectified that discrepancy! Never one to do things in half measures, Peter leaped into the sea to join his master. That reunion would be fortuitous. For history would show that Peter walked closely with His Lord the remainder of his life. We do not hear of Peter fishing for fish again. There is no further mention of “the” boat in Scripture. That option in Peter’s life had been forever expunged.
How quickly do you rejoin the Lord when you realize you are not where He is? How readily do you surrender your plans when you learn that Christ has a different agenda? Perhaps you need to leap into the sea and make your way as quickly as possible back into your Master’s presence.