The other side of the boat.....

“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:  Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  “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. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.  He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

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. 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.  The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  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.  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. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. John 21: 1-14

Cast your fish on the other side. It seems like a simple suggestion, but these young fishermen were tired, in no need of some amateur giving them direction, and keenly aware that there were no fish anywhere near their nets. But for some reason they complied—-and they were glad they did for the catch of fish was astounding. Have you ever obeyed and later realized how glad you were that you did?

Obeying—-not reasoning or reckoning—is what God called His leaders to do. But we are so prone to ask “why” or to carefully ensure that if we do obey Him we protect ourselves from looking foolish, or failing, or to appear to have misheard Him and acted presumptuously. But these young disciples did not take any of that into mind! Praise God——it is the reckless abandonment of Abraham, Amos, Moses, King Saul, Jonah, John the Baptist, and countless others that pleases Him and inspires us. The truth is, obeying God might make you look foolish, might lead to initial failure and might appear idiotic. But God smiles at those that are fearless and heroic in their love and submission to Him—it is what the heroes of old were celebrated for. Where are those heroes today?

If what God told you to do made sense and was totally logical, no faith would be required, and no character or trust in God would be engendered and kindled. Friend—-what is God telling you to do that is reckless, dangerous, extraordinary?

So they did what they were told to do and they were astounded at their “catch” once they dropped the nets into the water—-and in this case the result was instantaneous. The nets began to burst and the boats almost sank they had so many fish!

But they would not have caught the fish if they were on land just idly hanging around or mending their nets or begging for fish………they were out there trying! Nor were they weren’t sitting down with folded hands just praying about it!

Oh that I would listen to Him like these seven men did in their boat! Oh that like John I could quickly recognize Him; oh that like Peter I would fling everything aside and rush to Him and what He’s doing when I see that it is He that is making preparations for something wonderful! It does not matter what He is doing—-whether it’s frying fish or sharing God’s love with a prostitute—- what matters is if I am listening, recognizing and responding.

He is talking to you right now. Am you—-and am I— listening?

He is on the shore waiting. Can we recognize Him? He’s doing something and wants us to join Him. Can we throw everything else aside and join Him?