Open to the Spirit

This devotional is written by Sirine Hammami. All things French - Winner of the Euro 2021

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. 6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some."

When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 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. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

This passage reminds me of Luke chapter 5 when Jesus first called His disciples and told them that He would make them 'fishers of men', except now this scene happens after the cross, where Jesus paid the price "It is finished" and now His resurrection . Jesus has come back to His first promise, The Bible says He finishes what He starts, no words that He speaks ever come back void. However, to see our promise fulfilled, to be fruitful we need to be obedient to where His voice, Spirit lead us. We can't do it on our own, especially if we want to be fruitful, otherwise we will exhaust ourselves with no result, instead we should be obedient to His way. We learn also here by the net not being torn (even though it was more than full) that even if sometimes some of God's promises to us can feel quite overwhelming and we think we can't carry them, it is not true. Jesus will sustain us, able us to receive the abundance of the harvest of His promise without being broken by it, if we get our breakfast from him, if we abide in Him . Remembering that Jesus' ways are the ways where He says come to me, I will give you rest, I will make you breakfast my friends, I will feed you inside and out, I will serve you. So wherever you are in your journey into your promised land, come and receive His invitation. Thank you Jesus for the life and abundance that lies in your word.

Now, if you feel like the disciples after that night fishing with no result and you feel exhausted and dry can I suggest to read Isaiah 55 and find comfort and life in it..