Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

John 21:10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught."
Why did Jesus ask them to bring some of the fish they had caught when He already had fish and bread prepared? I’m not sure, but it does seem like the Lord to bless our labors and then use the fruit of what He provided for His glory. We are in this together, and in a way, Jesus asking them to add their fish to His dignified their work and exemplified His union with them. They were co-laborers and they were to enjoy their work and the fruit of it.
The same is true for us today as we live to love with Jesus. We are co-laboring with Him. We are helpless to accomplish anything of significance, so He supplies what we need as we work. Then having finished our work, Jesus blesses it by uniting it with what He has prepared for us. It’s a wonderful picture that encourages us to surrender all that we are and have to Jesus as Lord. We can know that He will dignify our work by using it for His purposes and glory.
Father, we praise You and love You because of Your gracious care for us. It’s really overwhelming love that You have bestowed on us that we can co-labor with You. Thank you for blessing our labors today and using the fruit of them for Your glory. Amen.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 21:8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
I imagine us at the end of our lives dragging our nets to Jesus. Each one’s net is full of the people God put into our paths throughout our lives. People whom Jesus loved through us and to whom He ministered. We present them to Him because we know we didn’t catch them. He gave them to us for our joy and blessing and for His own joy and glory.
Lord Jesus, we want to see You manifested in our lives, but are as helpless as Your disciples were to catch fish. Without Your power and presence, we waste our lives. Fill our nets with the souls of many for Your joy and glory.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
How exciting it must’ve been for the disciples to see the Lord on the beach. It’s hard to imagine what was going on in their minds, but you know they had to be thrilled. It’s always thrilling when Jesus shows up.
Lord Jesus, we are expectant today to see you show up as we work just like you did that day on the beach at the Sea of Galilee with Your disciples. May we be as excited as Peter. We can’t wait to see you. We need Your presence and power in our lives so we can work with joy and love the people you bring to us. Father, glorify the name of Jesus in our lives, we pray in His name.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 21:5-6 So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
It surely must have been a deja-vu moment. Here’s Luke’s account of a similar event.
Luke 5:4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
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."
Luke 5:6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;
Luke 5:7 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.
After this event recorded by Luke, Jesus called Simon to follow Him. It was a life-changing encounter. This also was to be another life-changing encounter as we will see.
As believers in Jesus, we are people of hope. We know Jesus lives and that He can show up anywhere, anytime. Let’s be alert today for the presence of the Lord as we walk by the Spirit in His love.

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

John 21:4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Remember how Mary and the two on the road to Emmaus were prevented from recognizing Jesus? This may be another time like those. In each case, we understand that God has a purpose for the temporary blindness. It makes the revelation of Christ a miraculous expression of love.
You may be in a similar state where you are confused and wondering what you are supposed to do. Jesus may be standing nearby, but you don’t realize He’s there. Take heart. Keep doing what you know to do and wait on the Lord. Keep loving the people God puts in your path regardless of how successful or unsuccessful you think you are. He will show up because He loves you. You are His!!!

Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com