The Scent of Restoration

Thanks for spending a week with me as I have been telling fish stories! I promise you that not a word was exaggerated and that every “tale” came straight from the perfect and truthful words of scripture. The Bible tells us another story about Peter.  Peter denies Jesus, before the crucifixion, sees Jesus die on the cross, and in his grief goes back to his career as a commercial fisherman. Let the words paint a picture for you right now:

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 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.  Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. (John 21:3-9, NIV) 

My friend, can you smell it? The scent of the lake. The burning charcoal. The smell of freshly grilled fish and bread. The scent of restoration?

In the moments that follow, Jesus is going to put all of the pieces of Peter’s broken life back together. He is going to take Peter’s failure and denial, bury it in forgiveness, and invite his dear friend to breakfast.  

Unlike Jonah, Peter didn’t try and swim away from Jesus as he could have. No, he swam toward Jesus, looking for a new start and a continued purpose as a “fisher of people.”

friend, I spent too much time trying to run from God. I was as slippery as a fish (or so I thought) and avoided Jesus because I thought I was just too broken to be put back together. 

Today, I am so grateful for His invitation to “Come, and have breakfast.”  

Would you join me today as we sit with Him, listen for His voice, experience His provision and accept His calling to share our story with others who need Him? I promise you, if you accept the invitation, the company is amazing, His provision is more than enough and His acceptance is all you need.

Thanks for fishing with me this past week. It’s been an honor to throw a line in the water together.

As you go, please accept this blessing from God, Himself:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”. (Numbers 6:24-26, NIV) 

And never forget my friend...

You are a miracle!