Evening Devotional for 11/17/2023
Title: Embracing God’s Unexpected Blessings
Scripture Reading: Luke 5:1-8 (KJV)
As the day draws to a close, let’s reflect on the story of Simon Peter’s miraculous catch of fish in Luke’s Gospel.
In the midst of routine, Jesus asked Simon Peter to do something unexpected: to cast his nets once more after an entire night of catching nothing. Peter, a seasoned fisherman, might have felt hesitant or even skeptical, but despite his doubts, he obeyed.
And what followed was extraordinary. The nets were filled to the point of breaking, overwhelming Peter and his companions with an unexpected, abundant blessing.
Like Peter, we often find ourselves navigating through life’s routines, facing moments of doubt or weariness. Yet, God’s blessings often arrive in the most unexpected ways, challenging our perceptions and stretching our faith.
Tonight, let’s consider:
1. Obedience Despite Doubt: Sometimes, God calls us to act, even when it seems illogical or contrary to our understanding. Will we trust Him enough to follow, despite our doubts or past experiences?
2. Embracing the Unexpected: God’s blessings might not always arrive as we anticipate. Are we open to receiving blessings in forms we hadn’t imagined or expected?
3. Recognizing His Grace: When we witness God’s blessings, it’s essential to acknowledge His grace in our lives and respond with humility and gratitude.
As we conclude this day, let’s pray for the courage to obey even when it’s difficult, the openness to embrace unexpected blessings, and the humility to recognize God’s abundant grace in our lives.
Let’s close the day with hearts open to His surprises and faith renewed in His unwavering goodness.
Prayer:
Gracious God, thank You for the unexpected blessings You bring into our lives. Grant us the faith to obey, the openness to embrace the unexpected, and the humility to acknowledge Your abundant grace. May our hearts be open to Your surprises and our faith deepened in Your goodness. Amen.
May you rest tonight, knowing that God’s blessings often come when we least expect them. Trust in His plans and embrace the unexpected with a heart full of gratitude and faith.
Evening:
“He that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.” — Ecclesiastes 10:9
Oppressors may get their will of poor and needy men as easily as they can split logs of wood, but they had better mind, for it is a dangerous business, and a splinter from a tree has often killed the woodman. Jesus is persecuted in every injured saint, and he is mighty to avenge his beloved ones. Success in treading down the poor and needy is a thing to be trembled at: if there be no danger to persecutors here there will be great danger hereafter.
To cleave wood is a common every-day business, and yet it has its dangers; so then, reader, there are dangers connected with your calling and daily life which it will be well for you to be aware of. We refer not to hazards by flood and field, or by disease and sudden death, but to perils of a spiritual sort. Your occupation may be as humble as log splitting, and yet the devil can tempt you in it. You may be a domestic servant, a farm labourer, or a mechanic, and you may be greatly screened from temptations to the grosser vices, and yet some secret sin may do you damage. Those who dwell at home, and mingle not with the rough world, may yet be endangered by their very seclusion. Nowhere is he safe who thinks himself so. Pride may enter a poor man’s heart; avarice may reign in a cottager’s bosom; uncleanness may venture into the quietest home; and anger, and envy, and malice may insinuate themselves into the most rural abode. Even in speaking a few words to a servant we may sin; a little purchase at a shop may be the first link in a chain of temptations; the mere looking out of a window may be the beginning of evil. O Lord, how exposed we are! How shall we be secured! To keep ourselves is work too hard for us: only thou thyself art able to preserve us in such a world of evils. Spread thy wings over us, and we, like little chickens, will cower down beneath thee, and feel ourselves safe!
