Thursday, October 17, 2002

 

Dear Family:

 

Yesterday we considered how Christ invites us to come and dine with him. This is a deeply personal experience which Christ continually desires to have with each of us. He desires to be our confidant, our friend, and our source of blessings from the Father.  He is always there and available to give us our heart's desire if we but look to him. But. too often, we like the disciples do not seek him or his guidance. We tend to go it on our own or go back to our old ways. Christ selected each of the disciples to fulfill his mission on earth. He selected them and said, "from now on you will be fishers of men." But, notice here that Peter says, "I go fishing" and the others say, "we also go with thee."

 

John 21:1-6 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. (KJV)

 

Peter was the leader. He should have said, "I go looking for the Master" or "I go preaching of the Master" or "I go to heal the sick" but he said, "I go back to my old way of life, I go fishing."  We have all been there in that moment with a choice to make to serve him, to be a witness but we go fishing, we go back, we lose faith, we lose hope, we give up.  Christ had come to visit them in the upper room after his resurrection. What a glorious experience that must have been. But here they are, so soon afterward, going back to their old ways. It is so easy to forget about Him in those moments when he seems far away and out of touch but, those are the times we need him most. Those are the times when we should be in search of him and seeking his presence. Those are the times when we, in bible study and prayer, should be seeking him. The amazing part is that he will always be there waiting on the shore with fish, bread and a warm fire for us. He is there inviting us, "to come and dine" with him in the quiet solitude of the seashore.

 

There is a song, "Fill my cup." Christ is always there desiring to fill our cup with himself.  To help us stay close to him and give us the strength we need to meet the day. So, isn't this the time to go in search of him to get filled again with his spirit?

 

Precious Lord Jesus, how lovely you are. I praise you and thank you for taking the time to come and meet with me here by the seashores of life. I thank you for preparing me a meal from your word to fill me with your love and your joy so I can meet this day with renewed hope that you presence will be with me guiding me this day in all that I do. Let others see and know that I have been with you.  Amen.

 

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