PURPOSE

It’s remarkable what all these men had in common: in moments of insecurity and doubt, they questioned their calling. Let’s look at the qualifications of some of those whom Jesus called back after His resurrection.

Simon Peter, who would later preach to about 5,000 people under the power of the Holy Spirit, had denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus had prophesied.

John 21:2-3 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. 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.

John 21:3 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.

Peter was called to be the rock upon which Jesus would build His church. Yet, because of fear and doubt, Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus had to put a recall on Peter’s life because he wasn’t living according to his purpose. Peter was called to be a fisher of men, but in a moment of doubt, he said, "I am going fishing," relying on his own strength and comfort rather than God’s call.

The call of God on your life is designed to make you uncomfortable because it requires your faith to be stirred up to believe in provision, healing, and restoration. You won’t fight for these things in a comfortable place. Peter had influenced others to follow his example of not answering the call when he went back to fishing, But after answering God's recall, he influenced many people to be bold for Christ!

Thomas was also convinced not to answer the call in a moment of doubt. Nathanael, who had acknowledged Jesus as the King of Israel early on but initially doubted Philip’s claim that the Messiah had come from Nazareth, was also influenced. Nathanael's presence served as a reminder of God's faithfulness, reminding the disciples that if Jesus turned water into wine, He could fulfill His promise of rising again.

John 21:4-6
At dawn, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who He was.
He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
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.

Amid the disciples’ mess, after they had turned their backs on God and ignored His call, Jesus showed up. He calls out to you today, asking if you have had success following your own path. Have you found pleasure and peace following the world's call, excluding God from your plans? How is it going with that house, that new car, that new career you didn’t consult Him about? In the same way, Jesus asked the disciples if they had caught anything following the world’s calling. Many of the disciples were fishermen by custom, not by God’s calling. When Jesus showed up, He gave them a heaven-sent call.

When you answer the recall of heaven, it’s because life has diverted you from your true purpose. Jesus commands you again to see if you will obey His voice. When the disciples obeyed, they caught so many fish that the net broke from the abundance. When you and your family answer God’s call, He is determined to bless you with overflow in your life—nothing lacking, missing, or broken. He has made up His mind to restore you for the call on your life. He will put His vision in your eyes and His heart over your heart.