John 21:3-10
"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you," So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He Called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." - NIV
What an awesome event! Simple but so full of the rich love of Jesus. Here these guys are out fishing all night. Working hard trying to feed themselves and probably needed some money. Jesus had died on the cross, so they had to wonder if they were going to be next. Remember the verse about Lazarus and the Jewish leaders were going to go after him too, because he had been raised from the dead and a lot of people were converted because of him. So there must have been a part of them that was frustrated with no fish and worried about being pursued. Out all NIGHT! Coming back early in the morning with nothing to show for it.
There on the shore is Jesus, God made into man. After being crucified and coming back to life. He has the coals burning with fish and bread. Plus he gives them a net full of fish. God came down and made breakfast for these guys. He gave them a net so full of fish they had to tow it behind the boat into shore.
What a great God! Way to turn a moment around for these guys. What an example of being humble. Being God and coming back to life and cooking breakfast for your disciples. How can you not love a God like that?
Seriously, I've been without Alcohol, Weed and Gambling for 41 days now and I am certain that it is because of the grace and WORD of Jesus. I read the bible every day. I've read this verse before. Today it just kept growing on me. At first it was just because I got off my keester and scooted out in the cold to look for stuff to sell so I thought about the net full of fish. Then I went back to reread it and these WORDS just come out at you. Jesus standing on the shore with burning coals, fish and bread. That's a great image.
That is the WORD filling my mind with good stuff. Reading the Bible is changing the things I think about. I'm not thinking about running off to play poker and drink. I'm not being bored and watching a movie wishing I had some weed and my bong back. I'm thinking about Jesus standing on the shore as these guys come in after working all night with nothing to show for it. Jesus turns it all around by giving them fish for their nets and breakfast to boot.
These are WORDS with power. Living WORDS coming to life inside my mind. I think this is a part of becoming new through Jesus. I never would have been thinking about this in my past except for a few months when I was a teenager and went to this church summer camp. I'm sure I felt him then, but I turned away hard.
Now I really do try by reading the Bible every day, praying and trying to the the right thing and catch my bad thoughts and I am blessed like getting a net full of fish. Jesus helps me find what I need. Jesus helps me find the right stuff so it sells. The last couple days things have been selling like crazy. I'm not getting rich but I'm not stressed out about money which is awesome. I can pay my bills and I know it. And I feel comfortable that things will keep going well. Before I would sell something big, make a lot of money, blow it and go rushing around panicked looking for another client or another house to flip. Now everything is smaller, but it works, my life is starting to feel under control and overall, life is good.
Thank you Jesus! Thank you for pulling me out of my destructive patterns and showing me how to live a sustainable life. Thank you for the eternal life that I haven't thought about before, but need to start thinking about. I don't want to get greedy and focus on the money. I am not good with money when I'm going after money. I am better with money when I treat it like it belong to God and I am just using it to get by on. I don't need to rush off to Vegas to celebrate and waste the extra, I need to account for it correctly, pay the taxes on it and keep reading the Bible and trying to be good.
I am submitting to an authority which I have never done before, but this authority stood on the shore and cooked breakfast for his friends after they had been out all night fishing. That authority in Jesus I am willing to submit to.
Thank you Jesus for saving me!
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