John 21: 9 – 12 When they landed they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

John records for us an interesting series of events. He and his fellow disciples went fishing and toiled all night and caught nothing. At daybreak the risen Lord Jesus stood on the shore and called out to them enquiring whether they had any fish. They said “No.”  They did not recognize him at first. Then he gave them instructions to throw their net on the right side of the boat so they could catch some. They obeyed and immediately their net was filled almost to the point of breaking. Something suddenly clicked for John and he exclaimed to Peter “It is the Lord.” This situation really spoke to me about our tendency to try to accomplish everything in our lives without God’s help, resulting in total exhaustion and nothing to show for it.

To the disciples surprise when they came ashore dragging the net, they saw a fire of burning coals with fish on it and some bread. Jesus had said to them “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” But they had not brought it yet so how come Jesus had breakfast ready and waiting so he could say to them: “Come and have breakfast.” I see a principle here – God has his own supply. So when he asks us to give, it is really just a test of our obedience. And he only asks for “some” of our harvest. When I read this passage about two years ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said:

“Know you not that the Lord God has his own supply? When you give, you give not to enrich the Lord God but to free up in yourself the ability to love freely and give so that the kingdom may spread in the earth. It is so that men may see that as a follower of God you have a different set of priorities. The order of the kingdom becomes important to you and the purpose of God for your life begins to take preeminence so that you may begin to shine for his glory.”