Bible League: Living His Word Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."— John 21:3 ESV In John chapter 21 we find the disciples waiting after the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew and Mark's gospels tell us Jesus had instructed them to wait for Him in the mountain region of Galilee. However, in our occasion here, we find them waiting near the beach in Galilee. Although disobedient to the Lord's instruction, it can be understood (and we all can relate) as their hearts and minds were greatly troubled. A week had passed and there was no appearance of Jesus as promised. Having had great expectations of the kingdom reign, instead they witnessed the trial and execution of the Lord in Jerusalem. Their hearts were crushed, and in fear they probably left the mountains to check out the lower regions of Galilee in case they missed anything. The disciples were confused, unsure of what to do and what was to come. They greatly missed their Lord after three years being together in ministry almost on a daily basis. They had depended on His leading and directing, teaching and counseling. So, they headed to familiar territory, the Sea of Galilee where they fished for a living. The disciples were in need of a reset in life and ministry, so they followed Peter's lead, going back to what they knew. "I am going fishing." For many Christians, there are seasons in life and ministry in which there is a need for a reset. We don't know what to do or where to go. We may be stalled or stymied or just plain exhausted from life and have no idea what to do. The disciples found their reset in Jesus. Experts in fishing, yet they catch nothing after fishing all night. A familiar voice yells from the beach to toss the net on the other side of the boat. Reluctantly they comply, and to their surprise they haul in more fish than they can handle. The blessing of waiting on Jesus came by just continuing in what they knew. We can learn from that. Keep showing up, keep punching the clock, and on His timing the reset will happen. New mercies, new grace, new directions, new confidence will come when we are faithful to what we know and continue to do as we press on to the high calling. Peter, in going fishing, probably was on the water reminiscing over his times with Jesus at sea—the rebuking of the storm, walking on water, the feeding of the 5000 overlooking the sea—amazing things that happened in the presence of the Lord. "I am going fishing." In recent history, COVID brought forth a great reset in the hearts and spirits of many Christians. Many went back to church or found a new church. Sadly, others left the church and have not come back. Those who were blessed in coming back or finding new churches were going back to what they knew, rediscovering the rock of our salvation so needed at such a confusing time. It was a reset of faith for many, but to what end? How many are back in churches, back to what they know, but just sitting and waiting unwilling to toss the net of their hearts and faith to the other side of the boat? Are they stuck sitting in the pews or are their hearts and minds anticipating a new direction, new purpose, new call, new dedication in a reset of faith? Are we just hanging out on the beach, or are we willing to put ourselves out there in faith and go fishing to see what the Lord is going to do? Peter and the disciples went back to what they knew, and their reset transformed them from fishermen to fishers of men. What are you anticipating from the Lord, friend? While the day is at hand, let your great reset be His best. Perhaps now is the time to get up and go fishing. Stop waiting and just start doing what you already know and be willing to hear and do what our Lord says. Be willing to toss your net to the other side. Our faith journeys are never about what we intend to make of the Lord, but rather what He intends to make of us. By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Kings 21, 22 1 Kings 21 -- Ahab Takes Naboth's Vineyard Due to Jezebel's Plot NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 22 -- Ahab Warned by Micaiah, Slain at Ramoth Gilead; Jehoshaphat King of Judah; Ahaziah King of Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 3:1-21 John 3 -- Jesus Teaches Nicodemus: You Must be Born Again; John's Testimony about Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “But there is no peace for the wicked,”says the LORD. Insight Many people cry out for comfort, security, and relief, but they haven't taken the first steps to turn away from sin and open the channels to God. They have not repented and trusted in him. Challenge If you want true peace, seek God first. Then he will give you his peace. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 1:14 The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.Believer, you can bear your testimony that Christ is the only begotten of the Father, as well as the first begotten from the dead. You can say, "He is divine to me, if he be human to all the world beside. He has done that for me which none but a God could do. He has subdued my stubborn will, melted a heart of adamant, opened gates of brass, and snapped bars of iron. He hath turned for me my mourning into laughter, and my desolation into joy; he hath led my captivity captive, and made my heart rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Let others think as they will of him, to me he must be the only begotten of the Father: blessed be his name. And he is full of grace. Ah! had he not been, I should never have been saved. He drew me when I struggled to escape from his grace; and when at last I came all trembling like a condemned culprit to his mercy-seat, he said, Thy sins which are many are all forgiven thee: be of good cheer.' And he is full of truth. True have his promises been, not one has failed. I bear witness that never servant had such a master as I have; never brother such a kinsman as he has been to me; never spouse such a husband as Christ has been to my soul; never sinner a better Saviour; never mourner a better comforter than Christ hath been to my spirit. I want none beside him. In life he is my life, and in death he shall be the death of death; in poverty Christ is my riches; in sickness he makes my bed; in darkness he is my star, and in brightness he is my sun; he is the manna of the camp in the wilderness, and he shall be the new corn of the host when they come to Canaan. Jesus is to me all grace and no wrath, all truth and no falsehood: and of truth and grace he is full, infinitely full. My soul, this night, bless with all thy might the only Begotten.'" Daily Light on the Daily Path Ecclesiastes 1:2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity."Psalm 90:9,10 For all our days have declined in Your fury; We have finished our years like a sigh. • As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. 1 Corinthians 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. Hebrews 13:14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Malachi 3:6 "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Philippians 3:20,21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; • who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Revelation 4:8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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