I’ve read the story of Jesus calling His first disciples a few times. But this time I caught something that I didn’t see before.

Though this is a story of obedience, it is also a teaching on the impact a miraculous event can have on all that are directly or indirectly connected to it.

From reading Luke 5 we see that obedience can:

1. Lead to an overflow of God’s blessings (verse 6, verse 7b) and

2. Reward those connected to you/around you (verse 7a)

However, I believe there are two things that occur that are even greater as a result of obedience.

The first thing is that your obedience can bring others to have a relationship with God and/or accept His calling over their lives (verses 9-11). 

Now you may think, “well, it’s not my job to save anybody”... and though that may be partially true (in the sense that you cannot force salvation onto anyone) – we must not forget what our ultimate assignment is: to spread the gospel of Christ Jesus and help others find Him. The bible tells us that discipleship is a shared responsibility of all believers. “Therefore go and make discipleship of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20)

That doesn’t mean that each one of us is to become a pastor, deacon, or ministry leader. BUT, God does give each of us gifts… and our gifts are not our own. We are to use those gifts to advance the kingdom by sharing more about Jesus. It says in 1Peter 4:10:

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

See, sharing the gospel is not only the assignment of appointed church leaders. Every single one of us is called to disciple in our own God given way. Even though living in the world requires us to do many things (go to school to learn, work to pay our bills, etc.). We cannot solely focus on worldly success and survival. Our discipleship doesn’t have to be as extensive as starting up a ministry or leading bible study with a group. Our very existence can disciple others if we are reflecting Christ. Matthew 5:14–16 says “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Though we seem to be running a race here on earth, the true finish line in this race of life is reuniting with Christ. How selfish would it be if we only focus on getting ourselves to the finish line without getting a few people to join the race and cross that finish line with us.

The second thing is that your obedience can change the course of your path, even when God is blessing the path that you’re currently on (verse 11). Even though Peter and his companions had enough fish to fill up both boats (so much so that the boats began to sink), Jesus called him to something greater - to be a fisher of men (verse 10b).

Sometimes the miracle is not a signal that you should continue moving in the same way/direction that you were before but instead a signal for a shift in your life. Peter’s story shows us that obedience is not merely about seeing a miracle, getting an answered prayer, or reaping the reward for trusting Him. It’s about leaving the miracle behind for a greater calling. Just as it says in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (NIV).”  The result of obedience is drawing closer to the miracle worker in the end – the miracle is just a by-product. 

Now the question I’m wrestling with is: when is a miracle or a blessing just a miracle/blessing versus a miracle/blessing actually being a directive for a next step?

Miracles as gifts in the moment

If you think about your life, I'm sure you can pull out at least one miracle experience you’ve either personally had with God or that you’ve heard/seen (If you say no, then you may not be reading the Word enough because there are stories of miracles all throughout the bible). For me, I can recall miracles I’ve seen in the past few years alone. One of them being that I survived a car accident where my husband and I were t-boned and the car was totaled. We miraculously made it out of the accident with no major injuries. If this wasn’t a gift, I don’t know what is.

When I think of a biblical example of a miracle as a gift in the moment, one of the stories that I am reminded of is The Widow’s Oil in 2 Kings 4:1-7. In this story there is a widow who is left with a debt from her husband and creditors are coming to take her two sons as slaves as a form of payment. God uses Elisha to help enact this miracle when he gives the woman instructions to ask her neighbors for empty jars, then pour the oil that she has into each one until it is filled. The widow was able to fill all of the jars, sell the oil, pay her debts, and had some left over to live off of (talk about an overflow!!). God made a way when there seemed to be no way (a miracle).

Miracles as a call to something new

When I think of an example of a miracle as a directive for a next step, I am reminded about the story of Saul’s Conversion in Acts 9:1-22. God used Ananias to perform a miracle in removing the scales from Saul’s eyes when he was blind. When he regained his sight “he got up and was baptized, and after some food, he regained his strength” (verses 18-19). He began preaching in the synagogues and telling everyone that Jesus is the Messiah. This is the same man who was murdering and imprisoning people who believed in Christ. This is a very clear example of a miracle preceding a change of course in someone’s path. 

What happens when you’re not sure if a miracle is directing you towards something new or just God providing a blessing for the moment? You pray and ask Him what He wants to show you from this miracle. 

Ultimately, though there are circumstances where it is evident that God wants to take us down a different path after a miracle, I think every miracle is a call to go deeper with God. Deeper into His word, deeper in service, deeper in love, deeper in gratitude, and deeper in trust.

My final thought is this: Looking beyond the miracle isn’t just about chasing the next goal, milestone, or project. It’s an act of surrender. It’s letting God do a bigger and better work in you and through you so that others may be saved and you may be transformed and become more like Christ.

– S

Reflection Question:

Think about a time when you experienced a miracle or a blessing. How did it impact you and those connected to you? Looking beyond the gift itself, what might God have been inviting you into through that experience, and how did it draw you closer to Him as the miracle worker?

Loving, encouraging, sometimes taken advantage of, and pretty much working for free.

I’ve been torn up by a particular section of the verses in my study today:

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

Speaking for myself here…when I receive grace, I’m usually in the mindset of trying to justify my actions/the thing that I needed grace for. I think to myself “nobody’s perfect” or “we all fall short of the glory of God”... and this is true.

But if Grace is a teacher, then it is also disciplinary (with love), and shares instructions.

By definition, grace is “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification” (Merriam Webster).

The bible says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Grace is unearned…a gift from God, not something we can earn or claim credit for. 

But here’s the thing: while grace does save us, the bible is also clear on the fact that we’re expected to grow from it. We should be actively learning and trying to better ourselves to become more like Him.

2 Peter 3:17-18 says “Therefore dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure positions. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Two words here that stick out are “grow” and “knowledge”.

Grow: though Christ’s grace is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), we are expected to mature when we receive it.

Knowledge: though Christ’s grace is always sufficient, we are expected to actively pursue Him to know more about Him – this is done through relationship. 

See there is a lesson that should come each and every time we receive grace. 

Going back to Titus 2:12: “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."

“No” is part of our spiritual training. Each time we receive grace (which I think is safe to say is each and every day since we receive new mercy each morning), we must say no to something. 

No to disobedience.

No to what makes us comfortable but isn’t God’s will.

No to repeating the same actions that we needed God’s grace to cover.

And as the verse says: ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions.

[Side note: Being able to say no shows that you have self control – and this is one of the fruits of the spirit.]

So, in saying all of this… I’ve been thinking heavily on the phrase “give yourself grace”... can we really do that? If we say that’s what we’re doing, then aren’t we placing ourselves above God himself and ignoring the very definition of grace (“...from God”)? In giving ourselves grace, are we really learning anything? Or just going back to the same old thing the next day? (Or maybe the next hour!)

How about instead of giving ourselves grace, we accept God’s grace or apply God’s grace. In doing so, we humble ourselves and acknowledge the source in which it comes from in the first place while remembering that there is a teaching that comes along with it.

Next time you’re tempted to justify instead of grow, pause. Ask: What is grace trying to teach me here?

The Derivative is where I’ll share what I’m learning along the way — in classrooms, boardrooms, prayer rooms, and everything in between.It’s not polished, but it’s real. Part behind-the-scenes journal, part strategy drop, and part spiritual notebook.

I don’t have all the answers, but I do believe every shift, every stretch, and every small change matters.

And this space is about tracking that movement.

If you’ve ever felt called to build something while still becoming, I hope this space feels like home.

Subscribe now