He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:4-8).

There are times when people who are looking for truth will see miracles and it will confirm to them that Jesus is alive and real. In this passage of Scripture, the men had been out all night fishing, yet had caught nothing.

Now keep in mind that this was their livelihood. They were fishermen by trade. Fishing is what put food on their tables and clothes on their backs. A night of fishing with nothing to show for it the next day was not a good thing. So it seemed a little ridiculous to go back out after cleaning their huge nets to try again - but they did simply because Jesus told them to. They were stepping out in faith.

When they ended up catching so many fish, Peter realized a miracle had taken place. They didn't just catch a few fish, they caught enough to fill up their boat and their friends' boat until they were on the verge of sinking. That's a lot of fish!

Something dawned on Simon Peter at that moment. He was looking for truth and answers and he had faith in his heart, so when the miracle happened in front of his eyes, it dawned on him that Jesus was the Son of God. He responded just like Zacchaeus and said, "Lord, depart from me for I'm a sinful man. I've got garbage in my life, and I don't even deserve to be around You."

The miracle helped Peter's spiritual eyes to be opened, because he already had faith in his heart. Does God still do miracles today? Absolutely! Should we pray for miracles? Absolutely! But miracles are not to prove who Jesus is to those who have no desire to have faith. He uses miracles to provoke their faith. Then their desire for truth and to know the living God explodes when they realize this really is Him!

Peter didn't focus in on the miracle, but rather he focused in on the One behind the miracle. The miracle is to point the way to the God behind the miracle. We're not to embrace the miracle, we are to embrace God.

When you realize that Jesus really is alive, He really does love you, and He really does want you to follow Him, your life will be changed forever. That reality removes the blinders from your eyes so you can see the truth.

Maybe you're saying, "I love Jesus with all my heart, but I really would like to see a miracle." I challenge you to take a look around you. There are miracles taking place all around that you probably aren't even aware of.

Are you breathing? That's the miracle of life! Can you say that everything you have or everything you have accomplished has been because of your own ability and your power? Of course not! Make a list of all the miracles in your life. I think you'll be surprised at how many turn up.

Source: Teen Mania Ministries by Ron Luce
Excerpt permission granted by Albury Publishing