Breakfast Onshore

This is such a picture of Church life to me...

"Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Children, do you have any fish?' They answered him, 'No.' He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' Now none of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish." - John 21:4-13 ESV

I'm going to work today but really my heart is to sit and eat Jesus' fish. I work to eat but even my ability to do that comes from God. My life is fellowship.

I get the impression that Jesus looked different somehow. The disciples knew it was Him but He was different in His appearance and maybe His voice was also.

Life is like that I think. We do what we must at times but God has a meal for us waiting onshore. We will see Jesus in the midst of the people who believe in Him. We will know it is Him but the testimonies will be unique and fresh. There will be new and old faces as time passes.

Work is work even if you love what you do... but then there is the time onshore... there is the moment when you realize God is inviting you over to the fellowship and you dive in the water to get there... that place has joy, communication and hope.

The building with the sound system isn't what Church is... those are just tools... the time ashore with God is Church.

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