Life Wins – Abundantly!
Heavenly Father, thank you for this time we have together. I thank You for the many blessings You’ve poured into my life, known and unknown, and praise You for the work you’ve begun in me. Quiet my mind and thoughts, that I can hear only You. Amen.
John 21:4-14
The Message (MSG)
3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.
5 Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”
They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.
7-9 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”
When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.
10-11 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.
12 Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.
13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.
This story is a reminder of the blessings that are in my life that I choose to ignore. Safe and comfortable in my misery, I can dwell on the most ridiculously negative things! We live in a society that sends us signals EVERYWHERE that we need and deserve more in life. The simple truth in these verses tells us that we HAVE MORE in Jesus – Pastor Delton called it “an abundance perspective”. I want to CHOOSE abundance over scarcity living (the place the evil one would have us live). We are reminded in these verses that God is bigger than our life’s problems, as long as we choose Jesus over this life; as long as we love HIM more than anything. This will be my mantra this week – will you join me? I love Jesus, I love Jesus, I love Jesus!
Dear Father: So often I live in worry, guilt, and regret. You sent your Son so that all of those are wiped out of my life. Send your Holy Spirit to remind me that your Son’s sacrifice and resurrection is my abundance! Make me thankful each day for the new beginning You give to me. I love you Jesus, I love you Jesus, I love you Jesus! Amen.
kristi