God's Work; God's Promise; God's Call

 

"But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that is was Jesus. The Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered him, "No." Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught... Come and eat breakfast..."" John 21:4-5, 10, 12 (For the whole story, read John 21:1-14)

Picture this, you're on a boat. There is a Man on the shore asking if you caught anything. As you tell Him that you have nothing, He tells you to cast your net into the sea. You do it. Immediately, your net becomes so full of fish that you cannot draw it back into the boat! Your friends in another boat make their way over, and between all of you, somehow you drag the net ashore. The Man on the shore has already prepared a fire, and He was already cooking - for you! He invites you to share a meal with Him, right there on the shore. 

Maybe fishing, and boats aren't your thing and this story doesn't fill you with awe, joy, and peace. That's okay. Picture the place you feel the most joy, peace, and awe. Maybe it's the beach by the ocean. Perhaps it's a woodsy trail, surrounded by nature. How about a mountaintop cabin, views as far as the eye can see? Imagine you are there, then a Man appears, asks a small task of you, then proceeds to invite you to dine with Him as He serves you. 

This story at the end of the Book of John feels to me like Jesus is living out a parable for His disciples. He asks them to do some work, then He invites them to relax, eat, and enjoy fellowship with Him in a place that was probably near and dear to their hearts. I think Jesus is asking the same of us. He wants us to cast our nets (share His Gospel), do a little work (spread His good news over all the world), and then He will invite us to His 'ultimate cookout' when our work is done (eternal life with Him in heaven after we join the church triumphant). 

Romans Chapter 8, Verse 28 tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." God is not just "calling" the preachers, pastors, priests, missionaries, nuns, monks, deacons, etc to His purpose. He is calling you, too! Friends, God is calling each and every one of us to His purpose - to share His Gospel with the entire world. "But Niki, I don't see how I can help spread God's Word to the whole world." Individually, no, none of us is capable of this. "You just said we are all called to share His Word with the world! Now you're saying we aren't capable. Why would God set us up for sure failure?"

Alone, we can do nothing. Sorry if this hurts your pride; it's just the plain truth. Don't fret! Philippians Chapter 4, Verse 13 reminds us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Again, we can do nothing on our own - however, we are not alone!! God is with us! His Spirit dwells in us. Just like a juicy piece of gossip can spread like wildfire in a small town, the amazing grace of our Holy, Almighty God can, and will, blaze a path across this earth if we let Him use us to share it. God might not be calling you to a small village in Africa, or a worn down city in Haiti, but He might be calling you to witness to the gas station attendant, or the grocery clerk, what about the teller at the bank? We come across people every day that might not know about our loving Father.

"What do I say to them?" God has a plan for this as well!! In Luke 12:11-12 Jesus tells us, "...do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you will say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." As we seek God, as we submit to His Will, eventually He will show us where we need to witness about Him. In that moment, in the time when God calls you to speak with someone about Him, He will give you the Words to say! We serve a perfect God, One who never breaks His promises. If He tells us that He will teach us the Words to use, we can trust fully in that promise! 

I want to encourage you to seek God through prayer and through His Word this week. Ask Him for guidance on where and who He is calling you to share His Good News. Then trust in His promise that He will supply you with all you need to do His will. And someday you will hear Him say to you, "come and eat," at the eternal table in His House.