Warriors Arise: August 29th, 2020
John 21:1-4 (NKJV) After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
What else can we learn from the disciples? They are human just like we are. I don't think I am the only one, at some time or another, who has:
gone off and tried to do their own thing
returned to what they felt comfortable doing
sought to provide for myself and family
worked diligently to make something happen
felt the pressure of my decision affecting others
had to come to the end of myself, my sufficiency, my plan before I could recognize Jesus waiting patiently for me to see, yield my will, and go to Him
The way that John states the fact, "yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus", makes me - think they saw Him, they just didn't know it was Him. Why would they think it was Him. He wasn't supposed to be there. He was supposed to be waiting for them on the mountain.
Verse 4 speaks volumes to me. I am overwhelmed by the display of His love.
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Why was Jesus there? I have been in this situation more times than I can count, definitely more than I care to remember. Jesus had told the disciples before His death and resurrection to meet Him in Galilee on a specific mountain. When the disciples got the news Jesus was alive, they remained in Jerusalem, hiding. Jesus has left the city walking with the men who were going to Emmaus. They returned to tell the disciples they saw, talked, walked, and ate with Jesus. Then Jesus returned as well. He showed Himself to His disciples and His scars. They told Thomas and they all waited for Jesus to reveal Himself to Thomas. Eight days later Jesus returned to Jerusalem and showed Himself to Thomas. Part of me wants to call out, "Why not go where Jesus told you to meet Him and maybe He will show Himself along the way; but what we do know is that Jesus will be where He said to meet Him."
When God reveals to me a part of my life and how He returned a number of times to get me where He wanted me to go. I remember praying again fervently, "God, why does it take You three times to tell me to do something, before I actually do it?"
I didn't want my relationship to be like that. I remember when God worked this point through me and I was desperate to recognize His voice sooner, be prepared to yield faster, and act in the now. Abigail was 2 years old and Josiah was a year. Scott and I were reading through a parenting book. It encouraged us to teach our children to respond to the first time you tell them to do something. Don't threaten. Don't raise your voice. Don't get angry. Tell them to do what your need them to do (like pick up their toys and put them away). If they do not do it, show them what you want them to do. After you show them leave the room to see if they comply. Obviously, we were training Abigail. Josiah was only cooing in his bouncy. I would shut the door and listen to see if she was going to return to playing or do what Mommy had said.
The love Jesus displayed. He was not going to choose more disciples, these were the ones He wanted. These were the ones God had pointed out to Him three and a half years earlier when He stayed up all night praying. Jesus was not giving up on His disciples. Sometimes it is easier to see what we are to do, by reading what others did or didn't do; how quickly they responded or their lack of response.
The parenting book drew our attention to the importance of having our children do what we said and when we told them; because one day their life might depend upon it. The gave the example of your child playing in the front yard and their ball goes out into the road, at a young age they may be so focused on the ball they do not see the truck coming. With one word could you stop your child in their tracks? They talked about a child who might go around a grocery cart while the parent is unloading and they got too far into the driving lane. Could you stop them with one word? In either situation, you would not have time to explain the "why." They would just have to trust you.
God had instructed me, "There are times I can't use you to minister to people, because I need you to stop what you are doing right now and make that phone call, send that card, help someone who needs something off the shelf at the store. I need you to respond without thinking, "Do I have time to help? What if they keep me on the phone too long? Put off sending the card, because every time you think you will get to it later. Because you were too into what you needed to get, you did see that someone else needed help.""
John 21:4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
John begins verse 4 with "But". But what? It seems like John is saying it is morning and we have not changed our tactic. Later, when John is writing down the event it would seem he is baffled. How long had Jesus been standing on the shore? It seems like John is implying Jesus stood their for a whole lot longer than what they realized; because he goes on to make the statement, "yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus."
John says this in such a way it makes me think. "Yet" is such a word of contention at times. It is as if John is saying, "It was morning, we should have seen Jesus. We should have known it was Him!" Maybe they were talking among themselves about who was on the shore. Not to spoil the rest of the chapter, but Jesus has fish cooking over a fire ready for them to eat when the do eventually get back to shore. Did they see the man catch the fish? Did they see Him start the fire? Could they smell the fish cooking? It is as if John is kicking himself, because no one realized it was Jesus.
That's the thing, I don't want God to have told me to do something and I rejected it. I don't want God to have to tell me to do something three times. I don't want to get sidetracked along the way and God have to wait to see if I will recognize Him, come to Him, and return to His path.
Father, I want to remember what You have told me. Make my mind alert and attune to Your voice. I want to remember what You have done for me. Make my eyes clear and precise to Your presence. I want to be easy to correct when I have deviated from Your plan for my life. I want to be easy to direct when You want me to do something. I want to recognize Your abundant love for me. I want to remember all the times You have returned to me and made Yourself known. I want to be respond to Your direction so I can extend help where it is needed and kindness to others. You are full of love and demonstrate it as You make Yourself known. You don't yell as me or scold me. Your presence is real; it steadies me in the time of unfruitfulness. You provide when I didn't even know I was going to have a need. You let me make the decision to come to You. Your love amazes me. I ask for You to make Yourself known to Your people all over the world. I ask for their eyes to be opened and to see You standing there, waiting for them. I ask for each one to look up and recognize You. And when they do, I ask for each one to return to Your presence 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.
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