MONDAY, JANUARY 1
“After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
John 21:1-3 ESV
FRESH STARTS: REVEALING
Just over one week ago most of us celebrated one of the most anticipated reveals of the year. We sat around a Christmas tree in matching pajamas and opened gifts. When we tore open the wrapping it revealed the gift that had been sitting under the tree. Some of those gifts were purchased months ago and some purchased the night before. The gift was ours but wasn’t really useful until we actually opened it and revealed what it was.
In John 21, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples again. His gift that day was to show them more about His loving nature and to show them more about the fresh start and purpose He had for them. He revealed Himself in almost the exact same way He did the first time. He revealed Himself to them after they had an exhausting night of fruitless fishing. In the middle of an ordinary day of frustration He shows up and blesses them more than they anticipated.
It is a gift when God shows up in our ordinary day and does the extraordinary. It feels even more like a gift when He shows up and affirms us after what may seem like a season of failure. No matter how your 2017 ended, it is a fact that God desires to give you the gift of revealing His love, presence and provision in your life. He wants to give you the gift of knowing that you are lovable and that you are usable. Start 2018 by asking God to show you more of Him and to show you more of His purpose for your life.
