Precise Instructions Followed by Obedience Turn Into Miracles.

“He told them, 'Throw the net out on the right side of the boat, and you’ll catch some.' So they threw the net out and were unable to pull it in because so many fish were in it.” -John 21:6 (GW)

Obedience is everything!

This story intrigues me. Please let me explain. Imagine how tired Peter and the rest were. Peter decided to go finishing at night. Nothing wrong with that, many fishermen do, but they caught nothing.

They were about to pull on shore, and there was a man on the beach. He asked them a simple question, “Friends did you catch any fish?” They said, “No,” and they still were not recognizing it was Jesus. He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat,” Still they did not recognize it was Jesus. However, they did as He said.

Three questions I ask myself. 1. How could they not recognize it was Jesus? 2. Why would they just throw they nets again? 3. What was so special about the right side of the boat?

I feel so strongly there’s so much God wants us to understand this morning.

First, how is it that we can’t recognize the hand of God in the mists of our problems? It’s because human nature takes over our spiritual knowledge. They had walked with Jesus, side by side, 24/7 for three years. How could they forget His look, His face in just days? Sorrow, disappointments, and pain clouds our minds, that’s how. This scene took place after Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are so focused in what happened, and what’s happening we forget God is still in control. He still walks with us, and He still talks to us. He never leaves. We are the ones to leave Him.

Secondly, they threw their nets probably because they thought the man saw a school of fish on the right side of the boat. This not to hard to imagine. I’ve been on fishing boats. You can sometimes see a school of fish go by. By the way, I hate fishing. It’s gross. My experience ended after I saw the process. And for a hyperactive woman, fishing is extremely boring to me (just a little side note). However, please catch this -they went ahead and threw the net in without questions.

How many times does God tell us to do something and we ask questions? “God, I don’t understand why? Why now? Why this way? Whatever it might be, we ask questions?” I’m notorious of failing in this way. I do it, but asking and many times complaining about it. However, I always do it. So many people don’t because it does not make sense. If I could write about all the things God had me do that absolutely didn’t make sense without telling you the ending, you would think I was absolutely out of my mind. I even think that at times.

Finally, the right side of the boat was special because that’s where the miracle was! Imagine if they threw it on the left. They would have missed it. They obeyed and they couldn’t pull in their net because it was so filled to capacity with fish. As a matter of fact, that one act brought them 153 large fish. You see, that number is significant and the size was, too. That kind of fish was enough for them to eat, and sell for their income. Do you understand what just happened here? When God does something in our lives it’s no small thing. It meets all our needs, but in order to receive it, it must be done His way, not ours. Jesus was already on the shore. You know what He was doing on the shore? He already had the fish cooking on the fire and bread baked. He had prepared a meal for the hungry and tired fishermen. They didn’t recognize Him at first, but one of them, after tossing the net on the right side of the boat, did. It was the discipline Jesus loved. I thought about why he was the only one to recognize Him? Well, that was an easy conclusion for me. It was the disciple who was always near Him. How much so? He was the one that leaned on the Lord. That’s how close he was. You see, you can’t hear Him or see Him if you don’t know Him.

Friends, are you truly leaning on Him? Are you so in tune that you are hearing what the Spirit has to say? Sometimes it doesn’t make sense.

I wear the bracelet in my Jewelry design as a constant reminder of God’s promises and how He led me to it. I will never forget that walk down Savannah, Georgia. I was praying in my mind in the Spirit. All of a sudden, I felt to go inside this jewelry store. I told my kids, “God wants me to go inside this jewelry store.”

We entered, and immediately, I asked God, “Why am I here? This jewelry is absolutely ugly! This has nothing to do with my design of jewelry.”

I felt God tell me, “Talk to that man and tell him you are designing a bracelet.” So, I did. The man told me, “That’s wonderful, but I am busy enough with my own work.”

In my mind I was thinking, “Thank God, I dislike your designs, and God, why am I here then?”

I thanked the guy, and was leaving. I got to the door, with my kids in tow, and the man called out to me. He said, “Wait, what is the name of the organization?” I told him, “Thread of Hope!”

I have no idea what that man said to me next, because immediately, I saw my bracelet in my head. Within one split second,I only heard the word, “Hope” from our name, and God gave me the design in one split second of the bracelet I was to design. It was so impacting. Before I could step outside that store, I had the complete design of my bracelet in my head. I was so excited, I was skipping downtown Savannah. Why that store, why that man, why that moment? I have no idea. I’m totally clueless as to the whys. However, I believe it’s all about obedience. Will I and are you going to obey precisely what God says in order to receive the miracles He has in store for you? Our answer needs to be, “Yes, Lord!” His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are completely different than ours. He knows the whys and the hows. We just need to do it.

Did you catch anything in this beautiful story of our Lord and His disciples today?

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You know everything from beginning to end, and You are the God of Miracles. Lord, help me to not have a spirit of complaint or doubt when You tell me to do something. My responsibility before You when You tell me to do something is to follow Your instructions precisely and follow through and completing that task. My job is to report for duty and take each step in order as You command. Give me the grace and strength I need to do as You have commanded, knowing my steps are ordered of and ordained by You. I ask all of this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

#TopicArticle #obedience #faithfulness #miracles #instructions