Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

For the last few months, I have been distracted, primarily being a sports fanatic. Although I have continued listening to my personal devotions daily, I have not been passionate about hearing and sharing from the Lord. Rather than quieting my spirit and searching scripture, I spent time scrolling through podcasts about my favorite team. I share my confession because the Holy Spirit has impressed upon me the need to re-center. Accordingly, let’s spend this week getting back on track.

Today scripture, John 21:12-17 (NLT) shares…
[12] “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. [13] Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. [14] This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. [15] After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. [16] Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. [17] A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

Consider…
One of the most iconic pictures of Jesus and His disciples is the Last Supper. As we know it’s there that Jesus foretold His imminent sacrificial death. It’s also there that He revealed a disciple who had faithfully followed Him would now betray Him. It’s at this table we hear our Communion recitation from Matthew 26:26-29 (KJV)…
[26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. [27] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; [28] for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. [29] But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

The Holy Spirit showed me that it was after the euphoria of this intimate meal that Jesus told remaining disciples that they would ALL desert Him. Matthew 26:30-31 (NLT) shares…
[30] Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. [31] On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Talk about a hard left, Jesus went from celebrating God’s new redeeming covenant, to informing these loyal followers that they too would desert Him now.

I say that because excerpts of John 6:53-56, 60, 66-69 (NLT) share…
[53] So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. [54] But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. [55] For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. [56] Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
[60] Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
[66] At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. [67] Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” [68] Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. [69] We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

I find it interesting that when life gets real with Jesus, the natural tendency is to abandon Him. This tells me that many of us want the live with the risen Savior without dying with the crucified Lamb. Said another way, we want to share in Christ’s glory, not His gory. Yet, Romans 8:17 (NLT) says…
[17] And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

At this point you may be wondering, what does this have to do with re-centering?

Well, after Jesus said that all of His disciples would abandon Him, we read Matthew 26:33-35 (NLT), which says…
[33] Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” [34] Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” [35] “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Like Peter, I have told the Lord that I will never forsake Him. Indeed, I am resolute in my commitment to Him and prioritization of Him…at least it’s my desire.

Well, of course we know Peter denied Jesus as foretold. Fast forward to today’s scripture and we see the ‘first breakfast’.

Prior to today’s verses we read in John 21:1-7 (NLT)…
[1] Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. [2] Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. [3] Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. [4] At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. [5] He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. [6] Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. [7] Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.

Notice the nuggets…

• Jesus appeared again
• The disciples didn’t recognize
• Peter went back to fishing, and the other disciples followed Him
• Jesus made a familiar request, and just like the first time Peter complied.

*** This shows me, on both occasions Peter was interested, and willing to do whatever, in catching fish. As I think about, it’s not uncommon for fishermen to heed the wisdom of others near the water, in the hope of catching more fish.

Accordingly, don’t overlook the simple or ordinary things God may ask you to do, because they may reveal He’s speaking to you.

• John recognized it was Jesus speaking

That reminds me of Samuel and Eli in 1 Samuel 3:8-10 (NLT)…
[8] So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. [9] So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. [10] And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

You see, re-centering begins with recognizing God is speaking to you.

• John let’s Peter know it’s Jesus on the shore
• Peter once again jumps into the water to head to Jesus

Once you are aware of Jesus’ presence, immediately make your way to Him.

• Jesus makes and serves breakfast with fish and bread, again.

God doesn’t say new things, He reiterates familiar things that will remind you of who He is and what He’s done before.

It’s after all of these familiar moments, that I believe flashed in Peter’s memory as he experienced them anew, that Jesus reminded Peter that his inward love and passion for Him never left, despite the outward desertion and denial.

God wants us to know that He knows our hearts, regardless of our actions. It’s our hearts that maintain a steadfast love for God, and re-centers us when we recognize His voice again.

Today’s song is…
Take Me Back

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)