Sunday, April 18, 2010

Blessed Sunday to you!

Worship was so wonderful this morning. It was a morning of praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The praise was lifted up in the Word written, the Word preached and the Word in song. Today’s lesson was from the book of John and the story of Jesus appearing on the beach to Peter and some of the other disciples.

John 21: 3 “Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing! They said to him, and we are coming with you! So they went out and got into the boat and throughout that night they caught nothing.”

The disciples gathered in an upper room following the crucifixion of Jesus. They were frightened and their lives were in danger from the authorities. And Peter, being Peter, was, as Pastor Marc said so well this morning, “ “going stir crazy and had to get out of that room.” So what did he do? He went back to the only life he knew. He went fishing. He and the disciples left the room probably after dark, found a boat and went out into the sea. And even though they were still sad, broken hearted and grieving after the crucifixion, it must have felt good to get back to doing something normal. How wonderful the sea air must have felt on their skin and the smell of the ocean after being cooped up for so many days. And yet after fishing all night their nets were empty.

Now I do not know if that was God’s plan or if the fish were just not biting, but once again their nets were empty. On the shore there was a man who had built a fire and was cooking fish and had some bread. He called to the fishermen and invited them to come to breakfast. When the disciples and Peter reached the shore the smell of freshly cooked fish and warm bread must have been so inviting, and the fire had to be a warm and welcoming from the cool ocean water they had experienced all night long. To have spent the night fishing (which is really hard work) and having no catch to show for it, the disciples must have been tired, cold and hungry. And here is a man on the beach who can feed their hunger, warm them by the fire and allow them to rest from their nights work.

Imagine if you can this scene. When the bread is offered the eyes of the disciples are opened and they are seeing Jesus. Now imagine being Peter and you are now eye to eye with the one you swore to go to the grave with and yet you denied him three times. Talk about a “Come to Jesus meeting!”

Jesus, the wonderful teacher, never misses an opportunity to teach a lesson. Right there on the beach he uses what these disciples know about fishing and tells them they can use those same skills to further the kingdom and fish for men where their nets will never be empty again.

These men were not only warmed by the fire on the beach, but their hearts were filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit and they were ready to listen to the call of Christ. Jesus told them to now go and fish for men.

Have our hearts burned with the fire of the Holy Spirit? Are we ready to hear God’s call to further the kingdom? Are we ready to sit down and listen and give over to Jesus all that we are for the sake of the kingdom? So I guess here is the question…Are you fishing to catch fish or are you just fishin’?

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes, count your blessings and say your prayers. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.

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