“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.”  [‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬]

When all else fails, we go back to what we know. Failure or even perceived failure, is crushing to our spirits and soul.  We loose the ability to move forward, so we go back, to what we used to know. Peter and the disciples went back to fishing, because that is what they knew. Some of us go back to past relationships, isolation, and past patterns that enable dysfunctional coping mechanisms for pain. What do you return to when you don’t know how to move forward?  It is often in times like these, for those who are seeking, that Jesus meets us there.  It is here on the sea shore, Jesus met Peter and the disciples, for the third time.

“Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on 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 of the quantity of fish.”  ‭‭[John‬ ‭21‬:‭5‬-‭6‬]

Jesus transformed the whole moment, from feeling like failures, to bringing in the largest catch of their lives.  There they realized it was Jesus and he was calling them to shore.  But on the shore with Jesus, shame set in and no one could look him in the eyes, for they felt the shame of abandoning him.

“Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.”
‭‭[John‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬]

There he loved them, on the sea shore.  Feed them breakfast, cared for their souls, wouldn’t allow shame to define them.  Instead, they were transformed by his love.  Three times he asked, “Do you love me?”  This would be the moment their lives would move in a different direction.  They would never return to fishing, nor to failure.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” [John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭17‬]

It is in these moments where life lacks meaning and you don’t know how to move forward, that is where we have to press into Jesus in prayer, we have to cry out to him for the help we need.  It was in one such moment like this where Jesus appeared to me in vision or dream, I’m not sure exactly what you call it.  But I was caught up in heaven with Jesus and there below us was a beautiful ball room with very rich and successful people in it dressed in black tuxedos and long black dresses.  In the middle of the ball room was a man in a brown suit and he didn’t look as successful as the other people in the ballroom.  After a moment I determined that I was the man in brown suit and quickly told the Lord I didn’t want to be the broke pastor in the ballroom but one of the rich successful business men.  He told me it didn’t matter what I wanted for I am authentically who he made me to be and that everyone in the ballroom was there because of the man in the brown suit and that his life had impacted all of their lives and they were there to celebrate him.

This was the first moment that I could see what a win looked like for my life. I was create for people, to give of myself so that they could become the men and women God wanted them to become. That the measuring rod of success for the man in the brown suit was not money but the impact he had on people’s lives.  We have to see and know what a win looks like in our life to determine what success is.  Otherwise, Satan gives us a standard of measurement we can never measure up to and we get frustrated and discouraged in pursuit of that we will never obtain.  Are you tired of not measuring up?

Jesus left a legacy for us to follow into.  One that transformed death into life, loosing into winning.  A legacy that makes beauty out of ashes and glory out of shame.  What is the legacy that Jesus is calling you into?  Feed my Lambs, tend my sheep?