A Warm and Inviting Fire . . . A Simple Fish Fry?

Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Being some of the fish which you have just caught." . . . . So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Pete, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" (John 21:9-19,15)

It must have been a sight for sore eyes, as a few of the disciples had followed after Peter on a fishing expedition. They had a long night of catching nothing, that is until the man on the shore called out to them to, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat". Immediately their nets were full of fish! As John suggested to Peter that the man was indeed Christ, Peter hurried to shore on his own as the others followed by boat. They found a simple fish fry awaiting at the shore, especially prepared by Jesus just for his disciples.

However, this was more than a simple fish fry . . .

The hot coals could have been there to drag Peter across them to teach him a lesson for denying Christ. Yet Peter must have felt something drawing him to the shore. He, after all, got out of the boat and rushed to shore! I would like to believe it was rather a warm and inviting flame calling Peter to forgiveness, offering the grace and mercy he so needed. Imagine, "Come and sit with me Peter, we need to talk!" As we read on in these passages, Jesus did indeed that. He restored Peter into fellowship and service. Peter would indeed follow Jesus until his own brutal death, hanging upon his own cross, only upside down! Have you been drawn to the Lord by His warming flame? As God drew Moses on the mountain via a burning bush (Exodus 3), He too draws us through His warm love and purifying flame. Do not resist! Run to Him as Peter did. Rest in Him and be assured He offers more grace than we could ever imagine! As with Peter, we may be ashamed, believing the lie that we are way too bad . . . done too much . . . gone too far . . . for God to ever want us again. So NOT TRUE!!!!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

As I have been told before , "All means ALL!" I like that . . .