IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008
A portion of today’s Scripture reading was John 21. It’s the account of Peter and the Others going fishing and Jesus coming to the shore to cook breakfast for them. I like that. You know this being a Christian really is all about a relationship with Jesus. Never let anyone convince you differently.
As I understand this passage it was Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John and two Others (who are not named) who had gone fishing. Can you see it – Seven guys in a boat all night throwing out the net, dragging it in and NOTHING? Not one little fish. The only redeeming thing about the night was Jesus, the next morning. Isn’t that the truth? Our ‘nights’ of trying and working and striving and doing yield us NOTHING. But when we look up and see JESUS in the ‘dawn’ — well, He’s the difference. So He asked the guys if they had any fish. He knew they didn’t but you know, often we have to admit to Jesus we don’t have it before He can enable us to get it. So He told them to cast the net again and they did. Smart move! And you know the story – 153 LARGE fish! I think one of the reasons we are told 153 large fish is so we will not miss the fact that Jesus kept the net together. Can you give praise today that Jesus is keeping ‘your net’ together when it surely has enough in it to break it? Well, go ahead – lift up a ‘thank You’ to Him.
I wonder when this net did not break if Peter remembered another time when Jesus invited him to launch out into the deep with the net. That event is recorded for us at Luke 5:5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this,they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.
That time Peter called to the others to come help; they did and everybody got blessed.
Sometimes just Jesus and you can handle a ‘full net’ and sometimes His design is to have others come alongside to help you with your full and breaking net. Be sure, He could hold it together for you without the assistance of others but sometimes that is not what is best. What a blessing we miss ourselves and deprive of others when we see our net breaking and we refuse to let others share the load with us. And please don’t apply this to just the tough stuff; fun stuff (extravagate blessings) needs to be shared too.
Well, this is not where I thought we were going with this devotion today. I thought we were going to get theologically deep in this (as deep as I am able to get so far, that is) but maybe this ‘net’ business it is just right for us today.
If you read on in Luke 5, you will see this breaking net expedition took place early on when Jesus called Peter and the others to ministry (The John 21 fishing event was after the Resurrection, before Jesus ascended to ABBA). It was after this great haul of fish and the breaking of the net that Peter and the Others forsook the life they were living and followed Jesus. Is it our ‘breaking nets’ that draw us close to Jesus? And what about those miracle nets that are full but do not break? What do they do? I’ll leave that question for you to ponder with Jesus.
John 21: 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
One more thought: He said cast the net on the RIGHT side of the boat and you will find some.
LORD, we are grateful for this ‘net’ lesson. We are grateful for the blessing You intend for us and others when our nets are breaking. And we are grateful for full nets that do not break. And LORD to ensure that our nets are the nets You desire for us, keep us fishing on the RIGHT side of the boat. ABBA, help us see and discern the RIGHT side of our boat.
Father, it seems these folks listed here are in our boat and we want to speak life and blessing over them today. We want Your Word to spread over them and bring comfort and warmth as needed. We want Your Word to inspire and encourage and motivate these and us to right thinking and good works. We want Your Word to empower and energize Christian Faith in them and us. We want Your Word to enable us to believe and receive whatever You allow into our nets today and give You glory for the net. And yes Lord, we want to see You heal and restore too. We want fully restored hearing for Steve; we want Bernie to be cancer free; we want Rachel well and whole, and as we look over the rest of the names, there’s multiple and varied needs, our IDOK Troops who are abroad and at home, for them all we pray Thy Will be done always, Lord. Amen and amen. Davison and Mosley Families. Danni A. Tye B. Sheri, Tyler, Hannah. Edie. Ann J. Bernie. Darlene. Rachel. W C and family. Chris B. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Odessa H. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Tonya and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Pattie S. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance and Baby. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy. Lee. Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil:
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony.
Hospitalized outside USA:
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G.
Still praying but no recent update: Hector. Corpl. Light. Bradley T. Albert R III.
As I post this it is 82°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 6:55 AM AST – on August 15, 2008
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