John 21:1–14 - God doesn't need me.

1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.

9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. John 21:1–14 (New Living Translation, 2015)

Jesus had served food before. He multiplied someone else's fish and bread to feed multitudes. (Matthew 14 & 15) He blessed the bread and wine His disciples prepared for their Passover Supper before the crucifixion (Luke 22:8). But this is the only record of Jesus preparing a meal for his disciples. Who taught him to broil fish over a charcoal fire? Mary? Joseph? His fisherman friends? What did it taste like?

What intrigues me is that Jesus had already prepared a breakfast of bread and fish before the disciples pulled in a net, bulging with 153 large fish. He didn't need their catch of the day, yet He asked them to "Bring some of the fish you've just caught."

God doesn't need me. He is self-sufficient.
At the same time, God wants me.

I'm not an "essential worker" to the kingdom of God.
Yet He chooses to use me to get the job done--whatever the job may be.

Father in heaven,
You are gracious to make me a part of whatever you are doing in the world.
Whatever fish I can haul up to the beach, even that is a gift from You.
To top it off, Your Son leaves me speechless--that He Himself would serve the meal He has prepared. (Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 10:5-7; Revelation 19:7-9)
Show me where you want me to cast my net today. In Jesus name, Amen.

We give thee but thine own,
whate'er the gift may be;
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.
    -William Walsham How (1858)