Blessings Abound!

In John 21, Jesus reveals Himself in His resurrected state to some of the disciples (not for the first time)  who are on a fishing expedition.

V4: Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

This verse reminds me of how often I do not recognize God's work in my life. Rarely can I sense His presence. It is hard to know, to know for sure that it is He who is standing at the shore, calling out to me, and not my own wishful thoughts reflecting back to me from across a sea of mystery. Does my mustard seed of faith prove me a fool?

V5: He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" 
      "No," they answered.

Jesus hops right in and starts a conversation with the disciples. I imagine the disciples are annoyed--wondering why this man cares about their fishing success? They're probably feeling whiney and embittered considering they've stayed up all night and haven't caught a thing. "Why is he talking to us?" I imagine Thomas whining to his neighbor in the boat, a yawn interrupting his speech.

Little do the disciples know that Jesus is setting up their hearts for another blessing.

As if He hasn't proved His love already!

But the acts of Christ are not exclusively about proving God's greatness . . . Christ loves purely out of who He is--the lifeblood and root of all love. God IS love (1 John 4:8.)

It's comforting to know that the trait I value most in this life (love) is the very definition of who God is.

Considering that the disciples don't recognize that Jesus is the one speaking to them, it is a wonder that they follow His advice to cast the net on the right side of the boat. Maybe they figure that they have nothing to lose. Maybe the disciples are so tired that they barely know what they are doing as they move the sad, empty net to the other side. Maybe they just want to get rid of "this guy" watching them on the shore, as if He knows them.

Well . . . He does know them.

Only when the net suddenly ensnares a multitude of fish (AKA when a miracle happens) do the disciples finally get it. The disciples could have attributed the sudden success to anything, but they had been around Christ too much to expect anything less than a glorious blessing from their great Shepherd Savior.

Similarly, I can attribute blessings in my life to my successes, to my rights, to the care of others . . . but ultimately, it is God who is working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28.) Why am I uncomfortable recognizing God brings every little blessing in my path?

I want to be so in tune with the nature of God's love that I have unshakeable confidence of His involvement in every single moment of my day.

Look what Peter does the moment he realizes Jesus is standing on the shore!

V7: 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.

 I want to be that radical. I want to break the norms of what is acceptable and be appropriately enthusiastic of my God who gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives gives and gives and gives and gives and gives and gives.

I think you get the point.