In John 21:4-8 it says : 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.6 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. 7 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. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
We will never know what would have happened if the disciples wouldn’t have listened to Jesus that day. Would they have eventually caught some fish…. Maybe, but I’m sure it wouldn’t have been near what they ended up catching as a result of listening to him. Although they were unaware it was Jesus talking to them they stepped out and did what he said and it paid off. Jesus was there with them just like he’s there with each and every one of us today. He’s as real now as he was standing on that beach. What are you trying to catch?
Do you ever find yourself standing there with your net in your hand and not catching anything, wondering where are you Jesus? I have! He’s there, he’s always there waiting patiently, waiting for us to listen and follow his direction. Some people will say God wont give you more than you can handle. I disagree! If we could handle it all on our own there would be no reason for Him. We would never need to call on him & we all know that with out Jesus this world is ridiculously tough!
In acts chapter 12:5-9 it says 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
What if Peter stays in bed thinking to himself what the heck was in that turkey sandwich as he rolls over and goes back to sleep. He would have surely been put to death the next day. Instead he got up did what he was told and was freed from prison! What are you needing to get freed from. Jesus is there with the answer, the remedy, the solution to whatever it is that you need, Just stop and listen for that small still voice. Once you hear from him you’ll know because He puts the answer to your question souly on your heart where there is no mistaking that its coming straight from God!
Father I pray right now that you touch every soul of every person not just the believers of your word, but even the nonbeliever that you give us the ability to not only hear you, but that when we do hear You we will listen to you and stand strong in faith knowing that we are following the path that you laid for us and I pray that once we hear Your voice we will grow strong in your word and we will hunger to hear from you on a daily basis so that we wait to hear from you before we make any decisions in any part of our life.
I pray for all these things in Your Holy name!
AMEN!
In the book of Exodus chapters 7-12 where God put the Egyptians through the 10 plagues to help Moses free the israelites from slavery how many of us would have said enough is enough and gave up on what God wanted and quit. After about the third plague I’m taking my ball and going home, but thank God Moses didn’t. He diligently listened to every word God said and brought the Israelites out of slavery and if they(the israelites) would have listened and stayed strong a 40 year journey through the wilderness could have only taken days!
Lets not get stuck with an empty net or In jail or in the wilderness that we call life because we cant tune into God and what He’s trying to tell us.