THE SANDY SEASHORE

“Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” John 21:17

Lord Send Me!

There is nothing more relaxing than finding yourself on a sunny day sitting on a beach somewhere.  There your feet sink, into the white sugary sand and the gentle summer breeze sweeps over your face and through your hair. Then suddenly you remember once again that He comes like the wind and even though you do not see Him you feel His refreshing presence everywhere. There you sit listening to the roar of wave after wave, after wave, crashing onto the shore drowning out any noisy thoughts that try to steal you away from that moment. Your eyes gaze at the beauty that abounds as you sit under the sun shining bright at noonday, penetrating your very being with healing in its beams. It is here away from the daily duties and distractions that you wait for Him and He comes once again as He has promised and begins to speak to you.

And so it was that day for the disciples who had been fishing all night. They heard a voice, in the early morning hours, “cast your net on the other side.”  And immediately, upon obeying that word, they caught a massive catch. Imagine, when they rowed back on shore, dragging the bulging net behind, to find a table prepared on the sandy seashore of Galilee. John 21:9 says, “they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.”

Just one smell of those coals brought memories of another night to Peter and not a happy one. “And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself…. Peter then denied again (for the third time): and immediately a rooster crowed. John 18:18;27 Just one waft of that fire brought him right back to that regrettable moment in time,  but today is a different day. Jesus has the table set and as He turns the roasting fish and the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, the message was clear: Peter you may falter and you may fail, but my love never fails. I love you Peter, I forgive you and My love has no end.

But could the same be said now of Peter? John 21:15-17 says,  “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

      One of the great joys of life, in response to the Saviors questions of love, is to take that love in which you have received and to share that love with others. It’s time to go a-fishing, and launch out into the deep, there is a boat-load of fish waiting for you to serve to a hungry world. Let the live coal from the throne room touch your lips, and say with the likes of Isaiah and Peter, 

Here I am Send Me.