Today's Passage - John 21:4-6

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 21: 4-6    Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.              While the disciples were busy fishing, someone was watching them on the shore. That person said, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" It seems the Lord Jesus always asks superfluous questions, isn't it? Just as Jesus once asked the invalid of thirty-years lying near the Bethesda pool, "Do you want to get well?" Isn't it non-sense? Why would you let someone carry you to the Bethesda pool every day if you don't want to get well?              While we are in this situation, however, we do not really want to leave it, just as many people found themselves in sinful situations, but they do not want to leave the sins behind them; or even enjoying the feeling of self-pity while in sickness, unwilling to leave this self-pity situation. So Jesus plainly asked him, "What exactly do you need?" Here Jesus let the disciples recognize their own poverty, not only the physical poverty, but rather the spiritual poverty. We feel content easily because we own this, we own that, but we often don't see how poor our spirits are!              Psalm 43 mentioned "I'll go to God, my joy and my delight", sometimes we have difficulties to understand: Is God really my joy and my delight? We will feel happy when visiting brothers and sisters at their homes, or having a sumptuous meal with some good friends, but it seems not as joyful while in the presence of God. Paul said, "I desire to depart and be with the Lord, which is better by far." It's hard for us to understand: Is heaven really better than this world? Brothers and sisters, we must acknowledge that we are poor in our hearts, such that we don't pursue spiritual blessings, but rather putting worldly things in place of godly things.              When the disciples were fishing while catching nothing, the Lord ordered them to throw the net, and when they did, there was such a large number of fish and they were unable to haul the net in! In fact the Lord had prepared for them aplenty, more than all they asked or imagined! Ask the Lord to help us, once again seeing all the riches in Him, and let us return to the presence of the Lord, because the Lord says, "But seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Let us arrange our life priorities according to the will of God, His blessing will come upon us!                                       Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, thank you, you are the God full of grace and mercy, once we return to your presence; your grace will come upon us. Ask the Lord such that we recognize your grace and abundance, and we are ready to follow. We give thanks and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!