Most of us long for miracles.  And Jesus’ perfect life, death on sinners’ behalf as the fulfillment of Passover, and His physical resurrection prove that He is willing and able to meet our greatest needs:  complete forgiveness and a new heart to follow Him as our living King.  But even in the Bible, most of the journey with Jesus is lived in the moments between miracles.  In this 50-day series, we’ll consider some of those moments leading up to the next great miracle in the New Testament:  the fulfillment of Pentecost and the incredible growth of the Church.

Don’t you love how the Lord started some conversations in Scripture?  Of course, He knew they didn’t have any fish.  In Eden, the Lord knew Adam and Eve were trying to hide from Him in the trees of the garden.  He knew why they were hiding and what they had done.  So why did He ask?  He was drawing them in to Him.

Many times when I’ve trained people in leadership and counseling I’ve reminded them that we cannot well-define a solution until we well-define the problem.  Of course, the disciples knew they didn’t have any fish.  But they didn’t yet recognize that the One speaking to them was the Lord.  One question and one command would prove not only His identity but His power and love.

Isn’t that what we need most basically?  To know that He is able and willing to help His people?  And, of course, a big catch of fish wasn’t their real need.  It was reconnecting with Christ.

God never promised to meet all of our desires in this world.  But He did promise that He would never leave His people for the mission and hope to which He calls them.  We often forget or confuse that mission and hope, however.

It’s not professional success in our vocations, personal happiness, or a care-free life.  If that were the case, Jesus might have shown up hours earlier for a faster and greater catch.  He might’ve even helped them to establish their own first century reality show as the lifestyles of the rich and most famous anglers of all time.

Instead, the Lord met them where they were and used their circumstances to draw them close to Him.  He still does the same with people today.  For our real need and mission and hope is closer and closer relationship, service, and joy in Him by bringing the good news of His eternal life to others.

He is making us fishers of men.

I hope today’s thought and others in this series will be helpful to you as you journey with Jesus in the moments between miracles.

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