Scripture Union Daily Guide 3rd April 2024 (Wednesday) Devotional Message
Scripture Union Daily Guide 3rd April 2024 TOPIC: Backslidden Disciples
OPENING PRAYER: Let me know more of you today dear Lord as I meditate on your word.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: John 21:1-14
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
3 “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.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered.
6 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.
7 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.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
• Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
• Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
DAILY GUIDE FOR TODAY APRIL 3, 2024 MESSAGE
Imagine how Jesus might have felt when, after three years of training and spiritual investment, Peter went back to his old fishing trade (Matthew 4:19) shortly after His resurrection. What could be the reason for such an unexpected action by Peter and the other disciples? Take note that when he went fishing, six other disciples went with him (vs.2-3). What does this teach us about the power and influence of leadership? How would this singular event have affected Jesus’ mission had He not showed up at this point?
Whatever his reason for going back to fishing, Peter’s action amounted to backsliding, but it was a fruitless effort (v.3b). However, when Jesus showed up on the scene, the story changed (vs.4-6, 11). Whenever we go back to our old habits, go back on our promises to Jesus or abandon our God-given tasks to pursue self-centred activities, we are behaving exactly like Peter and his fishing partners did, no matter how good our excuses may be (See Luke 9:62).
Note “although there were so many, the net was not broken”. Indeed, God’s blessing makes rich and does not add sorrow with it (Proverbs 10: 22).
Jesus’ appearance to His backslidden disciples and dining with them serves to prove that He resurrected bodily and lives forever (vs.12-14).
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
HYMN: CRUCIFIED!
They nailed my Lord upon the tree
And left Him, dying, there:
Thro’ love He suffered there for me;
’Twas love beyond compare.
Refrain
Crucified! Crucified!
And nailed upon the tree!
With piercèd hands and feet and side!
For you! For me!
Upon His head a crown of thorns,
Upon His heart my shame;
For me He prayed, for me He died,
And dying, spoke my name.
Forgive him, O forgive! He cried,
Then bowed His sacred head;
O Lamb of God! My sacrifice,
For me Thy blood was shed.
His voice I hear, His love I know;
I worship at His feet;
And kneeling there, at Calvary’s cross,
Redemption is complete.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, help me never to go back to my old ways of life, no matter the roughness of the road to life eternal.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Jeremiah 20:13
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 94 – Judges 13-15
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Wed Apr 03, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
BENIN REGION – CAMP OF HOPE, BENIN
THANK GOD FOR:
• His presence and guidance at the National Camp of Hope, Benin.
• The progress made on improving facilities there.
PRAY FOR:
• God’s favour\/intervention in attracting the attention of Government for the construction of the access road to the Camp
• A lasting solution to the flooding problem in the Camp
• Financial provision to complete the main Auditorium as well as the hostel project for which the foundation has been laid.
• God to pour out his revival fire on our pilgrim groups.
• All our brethren will thirst and hunger after God continually.
