April 14: John 21:7-14
Key Verse: John 21:11
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.
Devotion:
I wonder if you have ever done silly things just because you loved someone… There is something about the love we share with others which will allow you to act out of characters and do things which you otherwise would not have thought of! Those disciples which were fishermen had gathered together and went to try and get some fish again – what else were they going to do no Jesus was dead!
They already knew the answer to that – they should go out and make disciples! But they chose to go and fish instead. Nothing was caught initially until Jesus told them to try the other side of the boat; where they caught more fish than they had before. So what’s odd about that? First, Peter launched himself off the boat into the water to get to Jesus as quickly as possible just like a child would do when they saw their parents. Next, when the boat came in they dragged the net to shore, which seemed too full to be true! Professional fishermen would not put their net in jeopardy to bring in the fish, some would probably have been let out so the net would certainly not break… instead they dragged the whole net in.
This shows the two sides of people whom God has called to serve. The one side being where the people put it off because they are not sure and go back to the old life because they know that. The second being obeying – they listened to what Jesus said and fished on the other side of the boat. The third is being joyful in Christ and showing the rest of the world you are joyful. The forth is trusting; they trusted Jesus knew the answer and pulled in the net when it was too full.
Jesus calls us when He knows the answer already. He is not going to call someone whom He knows will always fail; He calls those whom He knows are ready on the inside – they just have to put the world aside, obey God, be joyful in the work and trust Jesus does indeed know...
Points to Ponder:
Do you carry on going back to your everyday life?
Is it time for you to listen to God?
April 13: Acts 3:17-26
Key Verse: Acts 3:21
Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Devotion:
How many times do you look back on the things you were told as a young child and see how they come true when you are an adult? Some of the things which used to confuse you as a child suddenly start to make sense… What you do with those things will start to define you from this moment onward. If you continue to reject them you will grow to not trust in much. If you accept them and live with them you will grow to accept the truth and hold on to it. Choices we make change our lives!
I would have loved to be a fly-on-the-wall during times like these where a disciple tears into the Jews for what has happened and tells them plainly of the truth they ignored. But Peter does not reject the Israelites because of what they have done; he reminds them of the truth of the scriptures which they have followed all their lives. That truth being they need to have faith in the scriptures, faith in God and now that Jesus has lived out the story of their Messiah, faith in Christ!
This is not the end of the story because this is just another step in the scriptures being fulfilled. Jesus was raised from the dead and He must return to Heaven, just as He said. That time of Jesus being in heaven is a time span through which we need to show faith. We do not know the time span, how long, how far, how good, how bad… but we do know Christ will return one day when at the time God has appointed!
We have had all the warning we are going to get. We have had the Messiah come and be with us. We have crucified the Messiah. God raised Him up from the dead. Now we wait. Now is the appointed time to wait, with faith...
Points to Ponder:
How do you define your faith?
Will you wait patiently for Christ to return?
April 12: Luke 24:28-32
Key Verse: Luke 24:31
Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Devotion:
Have you tried to meet up with an acquaintance after years of being separated and found you do not recognise them at all physically because you have both changed so much? It may only be after a while of being together when you start recognising the things they used to say and do which bring all the memories flooding back...
This story was only a short time after Jesus had been hung on the cross, had died and had disappeared, or at least that is what it may have looked like to them. They were certainly not expecting their Messiah to casually walk with them along the road to Emmaus! They simply did not look for Jesus and so their minds were closed off from seeing Him for who He was. But as soon as He broke bread in the same manner as He had done previously, their memories came flooding back!
There are going to be times in our lives when we are walking with God but do not recognise it because of all the distractions of the world and our own clouded minds and hearts. But as soon as He does something for us we recognise it was Him and are filled with joy.
The distractions of this world may not seem like anything now, or when you are being distracted by them, but the longer we endure the distractions, the more they detract us from our walk with God. He is still there. We are still with Him… but we seem a bit disconnected and don’t recognise all he is doing for us. We need to watch and pray always because it is during the quiet times God is doing the work and changing the world. We need to be awake and aware of Him as much as possible...
Points to Ponder:
What things distract you in life?
Will you try and listen out for what God is doing today?
April 11: Psalm 33:16-19
Key Verse: Psalm 33:17
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
Devotion:
There are many things in life which we think are safe but turn out to have flaws which let us down. In the UK people regard their houses as being the safe haven away from the world, but so many places do get burgled because of a fault or destroyed because something was wrong. Whilst we may be able to rely on many things most of the time, there is only One who we can rely on all of the time!
Kings, rulers and leaders have all been brought to their knees because people came up against them – no matter how big the army is, if enough people take a stance, the leader will be brought down; all it takes is for the truth to come out and people will rather stand for the truth than continue to live a lie. So the only safe place is with the One who does not lie!
We have a lot of technical marvels in this world, from the biggest tunnel boring machines which cut through mountains to the tiniest instruments used in the most delicate surgery; but all of those instruments are only as good as the people wielding them or driving them. You get the picture? There is only One for which anything is possible!
For every person who is willing to say God is in charge of their lives and to trust Him with and for everything, the Lord will continue to be there and continue to love and support them through all things in life. Yes we will still have to face the thieves, murderers, tyrants, rotten leaders, mistakes of others; because we still live in this world in which they try to thrive. Ask God to be a bigger part in your life and give Him the control He needs to keep you safer and stronger!
Points to Ponder:
Do you really trust God?
Will you give Him more control?