LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Tasters from the King's Table
The fish that you have just caught
That morning the disciples had more than enough reasons to feel bad. They were tremendously discouraged; they had worked the whole night, and they had not caught anything. But perhaps the worse thing was that, after the three and a half years of walking with the Lord, they had had to return to their habitual tasks.
For that reason, when that Man appeared on the beach, and asked them if they had anything to eat, they were forced to recognize that they didn't have anything.
It is the same with us. How many times are the fruits of our efforts in vain, unable to satisfy the Lord? How many of our chores are mere activity, without any consistency? However, the Lord doesn't reprehend His disciples, but rather he offers them an immediate solution. If they toss the net to the right of the boat, they would catch.
The disciples only had to obey and the nets filled with fish. They had never caught so many fish at one time. They were astonished. Then, they recognized the Lord, and they went to him, overjoyed.
The Lord told them: "Bring the fish that you have just caught." How strange it sounds "that you have just caught!" In His kindness, He attributes the merit of the fishing to them when He said: "that you have just caught." But in truth the only thing that they did during that long night without him was to fail. If they had now caught fish it was because he had given the fish to them. The merit didn't belong to them, but to Him. They would know this, so would they, therefore, be able to boast in themselves?
All those who really serve the Lord, know that the author of all bearing fruit is Him. For that reason, when the final day arrives, when the rewards are given to each servant, they will place their crowns at His feet. Nothing will be attributed to themselves, even though He, in His kindness, attributes the merit to them.
What servant has been treated by their master like this? What servant receives their master's entire resources so that they are counted as his?
No, Lord, don't say that we have caught the fish; we have not caught even the smallest fish! All are yours, absolutely yours!