God of Resurrection life, bring life and the fullness thereof to this dear reader today and all days; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Happy Easter! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Here is our text for Monday, the day after Easter: John 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Today is a tired Monday. Many will return very reluctantly to work. Tired from travel, time with family, activities at church, a long weekend. Hey, I'm not making up excuses for you! I live them! But I wanted to share this passage for Monday at work for most of you is a good time to show marketplace initiative (Thanks to Asbury Seminary that has a great program by this name; how do Christians "show" Jesus at work?). The disciples return to work. Or at least they accompany Peter to his work. That night they caught nothing; a long night at work with nothing to show for it. Jesus comes and asks if they have been productive. The answer was evident, no. Jesus then gives them the answer they sought, and it was a simple one, but still required faith and obedience, and they were very successful. And it was when they realized that this advice had come from above, they knew it was Jesus!
How do you show Jesus in your workplace? How is the Risen Lord evident in your life? Will you speak today of the great worship experience you had yesterday? Will you share of the hope that is ours because He lives? Today is probably the most opportune time to show Jesus alive than perhaps any other time of the year. Many will have gone to church yesterday and most pastors won't see them until Christmas. One friend's dad used to say at the end of his Easter services, "Before I forget, Happy 4th of July, Happy Labor Day! Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving; see you at Christmas!" ( He was also the one who coined the name "C.E.O." for Christmas and Easter Only worship attenders.)
Use today as a day to give hope, faith and love to those around you. Share the power of Resurrection at work in your life. Be a blessing to someone!
PRAYER: GOD of life, bring my work to life. Let me turn to You in all things and let me be open to Your leading. A word from you may make the difference between just working and producing. Let me also share a word of hope, faith and love to those around me. Show me how. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
