Warriors Arise: August 31st, 2020
John 21:4-5 (NKJV) But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
I find it unusual His disciples did not recognize Him by His voice. They had heard His voice for 3 and a half years. They had heard Him speak loudly every time He spoke to the multitudes. Several referrences in the Bible tell of Jesus speaking to the multitudes. Twice the Bibles tells of Jesus speaking to a group of 5,000 men with their wives and children. Another time it was a group of 4,000 men with their wives and children. They had heard Jesus speak clearly and loudly. Some might argue that His voice would have been different since He was speaking over the water. But they would have been a good distance away. Fish don't swim in schools next to the shoreline. You have to go out 50 or 100 yards or so.
Think of calling out the length of a football field. Maybe if that seems to far fetched, think of calling out across the width of a football field. If you been to a football game you might have engaged in encouraging comments to your son and other teammates. You wanted your voice to carry to the player to whom you were directing your encouragement.
Remember to the last football game you attended or watched. The football player on the field has a helmet on and preparing for action. They are focused on what the coach has taught them and the play quarterback has called. One layer is anticipating the moves of their opponent so they can stay with them and take them down while the other is concentrating on how they are going to move, sidestep or fake their opponent so they can get around him. They are clearing their minds by rejecting the insults of their opponent across from the line of scrimmage, even if there aren't comments each is waiting in anticipation with great focus for when the ball is snapped and the play begins. Then they begin to do what they have been trained to do. They run, dodge, look for the player with the ball, out run and/or take down their opponent. All the while, crowds are yelling their encouragement.
They might not hear everything their parent yells, every time but they can identify their parent's voice throughout the game. Because the parent has encouraged them for so long they can be encouraged by those comments replaying in their mind, every time they make a great play and fulfill their task on the field.
This same point can work in the opposite as well. When a child has heard their parent call out negative things such as, "How could you miss him? He was right in front of you! What are you doing? The ball was right there!" The questions are implying the child is stupid or an idiot. The question to follow enforces why you think your child is being stupid. Then the embarrassment of knowing everyone in the stands heard your parent. This can crush a child, no matter their age. Their mind begins to question their ability to think and respond. On the inside, they begin to believe what their parent called out.
Jesus was on the shore and the disciples were in the boat, Jesus had to speak loudly. They were not on their way in; they were fishing at least 50 yards from shore, probably more.
A friend came to church yesterday. She had been wanting to come for some times, but life happens and she hadn't made it. However, this morning she was awakened by a voice. This voice said her name. She knew it was God and she had time to make it to church. God wasn't letting her miss today. The message Scott delivered was what she needed.
The disciples were at least 50 yards from shore. They were close enough to see a man but not to recognize Him. But then He speaks and they still do not recognize Jesus.
Father, I ask for You to open our ears so we hear what You are saying to use. Sometimes life seems so congested, as if our day is like we are players on the football field. Our focus is on what is right in front of us, what we have to do, what we have to accomplish to succeed today. In the midst of our to-do, call out to us. I ask for encouragement to make decisions based on your love, kindness and wisdom. In all we have to accomplish for the day, I ask for You to speak clearly to direct our paths, call the play like the quarterback. I pray for my mind to be focused on what You have put in front of me to do. I ask for You to speak, direct the thoughts in my mind as I face the different oppositions in my day. I pray for a mind set on You with clarity and knowledge. I ask for You to give me the strength to run the race You have for me each day. It seems like each day is different just like each play is different in a football game. But You are my steady. You are the voice I want to hear. You are the one I want to strengthen my resolve to fulfill each task in my day. I do not want to be distracted by the chiding of my opponent or those who do not have my best interest in mind. I reject, block out, and live free of those saying things that do not line up with Your will for my life. I focus my mind on what You have said to me in the past, being excellent in the abilities, gifts and talents you have given me, and strengthened because of Your words coming to me now. I ask for Your voice to be clear to my ears and I will respond with courage in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
Comments