Today’s Reading: John 21:4-6
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.”
* * * * *
The disciples were skilled fishermen. They had spent the entire night fishing, yet to no avail. They had caught nothing.
Jesus stood on the shore. It was early morning. As the sun peeked over the horizon, he called to them. They didn’t recognize him at first. He called out to them, “Children.” It was a term of endearment. His affection for all of them ran deep.
He then asked them if they had caught any fish. He knew they had caught nothing. That was part of the plan. He had willed for them to not catch anything. He had sovereignly decreed for all the fish to evade their nets.
He had a larger and better plan.
Jesus’ disciples answered him and said that they hadn’t caught anything. He told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat.
The disciples wondered why they should obey some unknown figure instructing them from the shore. But they were tired. They knew they had nothing to lose. So they cast their nets on the other side of their boat.
When they did, they hauled in a large number of fish—too many for them to bring into the boat.
Do you see the purpose of all that happened here? This was similar to when Jesus fed the 5000.30 With only five loaves and two fish, he fed them all—with 12 basketfuls of food left over. The disciples had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. But with one word, Jesus was able to supply a net so full of fish that they couldn’t even bring them all on board the boat.
Do you understand? He is not a God of paucity, but of abundance. He wants to give exceedingly and abundantly beyond what you could ever hope or imagine. How great is his goodness stored up for those who fear him!
The Lord is not a miser, nor is he stingy. He is a giver. He enjoys blessing his children. When you delight in him, he loves to grant you your heart’s desires. The Father so loved the world that he gave his only Son to die for you and give you eternal life. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. He gives hope to those who feel nothing good is going to happen.
Your faith increases when you know what kind of God he really is. He is not trying to deny you life’s enjoyment. He withholds no good thing from those who do what’s right.
Don’t give up. Keep persevering. Defeat happens only when you quit trying. Do what he says. Go to the other side of the boat and try again.
And experience the abundant blessings he has waiting for you there.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]