Many of us enjoy camping, whether in a tent or in an RV. After a long day of hiking or other outdoor activities, nothing beats sitting around a robust campfire. The warmth of the fire, the stillness of the night, and the quiet conversation with family and/or friends is a perfect ending to any day! When camping, I usually rise early in the morning, get a cup of coffee, grab my Bible, and head outside. There is usually enough hot coals left from the night before to get a fire going quickly. Add to that a hearty breakfast of eggs, biscuits, gravy, and it becomes a perfect start to my day!
John 21 contains one of the most tender stories in all of the Bible, and an example of a great start to any day. It is here that you find the discouraged disciples waiting for Jesus. They had already seen Him twice since the resurrection, but weren’t sure what to do, or how long it would be before they saw Him again. The disciples went back to what they did know, fishing. Not having much success, they heard a voice shouting from the shore, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find” (John 21:6). The men did so and caught more fish than they could handle! John recognized that it was Jesus who was on the shore and let the others know. Peter couldn’t contain himself, jumped in the water and swam to shore to see his Savior. What Jesus did next is incredible!
“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine” (John 21:9, 12). Jesus didn’t scold them or instruct them; instead He built a fire, cooked breakfast, and sat down to fellowship with them! There are numerous applications and lessons in this story for all of us, but don’t miss the most obvious and simple ones. Jesus cares about every detail of our lives, even that we have a good breakfast. He cares about what we eat, what we wear, where we go, and that all of our basic needs are met. Most importantly, He loves to simply fellowship with His followers. When you open your Bible in a solitude place, meditating on His words and praying, it’s much like sitting around a fire with Him. He desperately wants an intimate relationship with you and I. Will you give it to Him today? Or will you stay in the boat, too busy to hear Him inviting you to fellowship with Him? Let’s be like Peter, who jumped out of the boat, desperately wanting to commune with his Savior!
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4).