Methods, Means And Miracles

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.  They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

John 21:6

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.  They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

John 21:6

God is the God of the miraculous.  Throughout the ages we see the Biblical records of His performance of miracles.  He is free to work without ordinary means and methods, over them, or even against them.  Having said that, we often observe Him using means and methods to work His miracles.  We have one such instance before us today.  Christ appeared to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias after He had risen from the dead.  They had been fishing all night without success.  Christ called to them from the shore, asking them about their night’s work.  They replied, without realizing Christ’s identity, that they had caught nothing.  Christ advised them to do something unorthodox by telling them to cast the net on the opposite side to which they were accustomed.  Suddenly, their nets were full.  Christ had done the miracle of filling their nets, but He had used them under His direction to employ ordinary means with unusual methods.  We want to be wise as we seek to follow Christ.  He will do the miraculous, and He may even use normal means, but He may direct us to employ unconventional methods.  What is important is that we are sensitive to His leading and direction.  This will lead us to see Him do far beyond what we ever would have conceived.

Our Wonder-working God,
we rejoice that You are able to do the miraculous.
We praise You that even though You can work without us,
yet, You choose to include us,
that we may bring You glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning