While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennasaret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Luke 5:1-3

Jesus taught a huge crowd by the lake of Gennasaret. Over and over again, the Gospels tell us that crowds gathered to listen to Jesus. People wanted to be around him. They wanted to hear him speak. They found Jesus fascinating. When people met the real Jesus, they liked him and wanted to be around him. 

This crowd of people is so engaged and people are straining so hard to hear that they are pressing in on him and Jesus is being pushed back toward the water. This creates a problem for Jesus. But then Jesus sees a solution to his problem. He asks Simon Peter if he can use his boat and teach the people from there. Simon Peter makes himself available. 

We share our faith in Jesus, knowing that he is fascinating and interesting. People who meet Jesus like him, even people who are nothing like him. Sharing our faith begins with the confidence that people will like Jesus and continues as we make ourselves available to him. 

Tell Jesus today that you are making yourself available to him. Commit to investing in one person over the next month.