After the catch, John told Peter that it was the Lord. Peter immediately put on his outer garment for he had stripped for work and he threw himself in the sea. The other disciples were dragging the fish out of the sea. They saw saw charcoal fire laid and fish placed on the fire and bread. Jesus then asked for some of the fish they had caught. They had so many fish and 153 large fish.
Jesus then invited them to have breakfast. He served them bread and fish.
We see here that Jesus did not only care for their spiritual needs but also for their physical needs.
He understood how hungry the disciples were having fished the whole night in the cold without catching anything. They were extremely hungry. Jesus made fire and prepared fish and bread; but where did He get his fish and bread? The disciples had not brought theirs out of the sea. He performed a miracle just to feed them. He cared for the disciples.
He is still the same today. For His disciples, those who love Him with all their hearts, soul, mind and strength, more that their family members and friends and their wealth, those who have chosen the way of the cross, to deny their own will to do God's will, Luke 9:23, 14:26-33, to such, He will perform miracles to feed them. The disciples had not even prayed but Jesus came. He has not changed, even today He is the same.
After finishing breakfast, Jesus asked Peter whether He loved Him more than the bread and fish He gave Him. Why ask such a question? Because at that time, Peter had been so hungry that the only thing he thought of was food and how to satisfy his hunger. Have you ever been so hungry that nothing else could make sense to you but food. So hungry that you will not be choosy on the type of food you ate, whether it's well prepared or, that time when you think you can eat food meant for ten people.
If you think you were hungry but you were choosy on food, you didn't experience the hunger Peter and the disciples had that night.
Peter told Him that He loved him as a friend. He remembered he denied Jesus three times. Jesus had asked whether he loved Him with divine love.
He told Peter to feed His lambs.
He asked the second time, whether he loved Him with the divine love, Peter answered that He loved Him as a friend. He told Him to feed His sheep.
He asked Him the third time, now coming to His level, do you love me like a friend, the Peter was grieved and said that he loved him and he knew all things.
He told Him to feed his sheep.
We see here that pastoral ministry is primarily not about loving the people, but loving the Lord Jesus. It's when you love the Lord that you will give proper nutrition to the sheep.
If you don't love the Lord you will seek to please men and if you seek to please men, to say things that don't offend them, and you will never be a servant of God. Gal 1:10
Jesus begun with Peter to the level he was and would help him to rise to greater heights. It's encouraging to see that Jesus descends to our level to lift us from there. When we are honest like Peter, He was asked whether he loved Jesus with divine love but he answered that he loved Him like a friend, God could use Him because He was honest, not because he was perfect.
One requirement for God to use us is that we must be honest with Him. God already knows us from inside, there is no need to pretend to be spiritual before him in prayer when all our thoughts revolves around us, there is no need to pretend before God that we are interested in the things of God when we are not. God already knows all our interests.
God will never transform us nor use us for His highest purposes until we are honest with Him.
Do you desire that God changes you to be what He wants you to be? Then stop pretending that you are already like that, admit it that you have been pretending, and God will transform you.
Do you desire God to use you? Learn to be honest and naked before Him. He will use you.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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