Dieticians all over the world assent to the obvious truth that you can’t live by bread alone.

It seems a strange thing to focus on, but the account in the Bible where God feeds the hungry, and somewhat desperate nation of Israel with Manna for 40 years is more important than first impressions allow.

It is good to have the miraculous interventions of God in life – and as the Exodus narrative shows, the prolonged daily occurrence of God’s miraculous provision was essential and crucial.

The daily bread of Israel was important to them, but in providing the manna God had a powerful lesson to teach, namely that in the very moment that God was providing them with the bread of heaven, they couldn’t live on that alone.

What is required for life is God’s Word itself. But what does that mean? Miracles may bring relief and a welcomed intervention in life, but the real sustenance comes from what God has to say to us. Familiarity can bring contempt and for the Israelites that was very clear from their outburst, “But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna”. Right there is the heart of the matter – God was teaching them to hunger for more than bread.

The discontentment they were feeling was intended to drive them to the face of God, and not for them to be just looking for the hand of God. It is a difficult tension – everything we have comes as the provision of God’s kind and gracious hand, but what is really important to us is that we live off of the words that proceed from the mouth of God.

There are two things to consider here. The first is that all Scripture is breathed out, inspired and given by God. Scripture teaches us how to live our lives, what is required of us and how to find, know and live by God’s wisdom. In short, Scripture teaches us to look to God alone, not fear the face of man and to be confident in our God.

The other important thing is that God speaks to us. Perhaps, this is a profound part of what it means to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Perhaps the biggest message we need to hear today amidst the still gathering storms we face, is that God hears and answers prayer.

The letter from Paul to the Colossians urges them unequivocally, “devote yourselves to prayer”. In fact Paul takes it even further, pressing the issue more and more with the Philippian saints, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”.

Everything you need will come by prayer, and God is still speaking in response today. When God says ‘let there be..’ it happens, but we do need to learn how to persistently ask. What God has already done for us is wonderful – but in His extravagance God calls for us to keep on relentlessly coming to Him in prayer.

You don’t live by miracles alone, but by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth.

Sounds exciting doesn’t it?

Matthew 4:4 | Deuteronomy 8:3 | Numbers 11:6 | Colossians 4:2 | Philippians 4:6

Your lake is full, even when your net is empty! In the remarkable account of Jesus’ instructing the disciples to recast their nets in a different location, the greatest price is paid by the fish!

The lessons come thick and fast in the narrative, (John 21:1-15) and certainly an opening message is that Jesus often will encourage us to learn to fish in a new place. Clearly, the disciples could not have caught a thing if Jesus had not turned up. Even when Jesus called out to them, the turning point was obedience.

The story is an intriguing one. The lake, like our lives, is teeming with life and promise and we often just cannot see it. We’ve all encountered barrenness, emptiness – nothing in our nets, and had to continue. And in some cases people are tired, the way these fishermen were tired after fishing all night. Some are tired of life, tired of trying. Nothing ever seems to happen for them. It happens for everybody else, but not for them. Their lives are empty and unfulfilled.

And yet, we live in earshot of the encouraging instruction of God. And if we follow the advice He gives, we will be surprised at what happens to us.

It’s amazing what obedience will bring. Fishing all night without a single catch is challenging, but when Jesus says for you to cast your net on the other side, it may sound patronising and simple, but what if he’s right? What if there’s something tremendous and exciting down there merely waiting for you if you make a little adjustment in where you’re letting down your nets?

What if it’s only a matter of learning to fish in a new place – that is not that far away?

Life, like the lake, is filled with possibilities that are  rich beyond all imagining.  The lake is deep. It has far richer resources than we usually imagine. It is never completely fished out, not for any of us. We only need to learn to readjust, to let our nets down in a new area, to rediscover the riches.

And when we do, we pull up our nets full of fish again, then we suddenly realize the presence of God in our lives.

It is after the fishermen let down their nets on the right side and pull them in teeming with fish, that they suddenly recognize Christ on the shore and realize there is a connection between him and what has happened. “It is the Lord!” exclaims John. And then they can’t wait to get to shore and spend time with him.

It takes God to reveal God Some of the most life changing and astonishing encounters are not far from us – but it takes God to reveal God, and Jesus is breathtakingly brilliant at doing just that. He does all things well! (Mark 7:37)

Have you spotted the connections in your life and ministry between obedience and your encounters with God?

It doesn’t really matter how many fish there are to be found suddenly in the net, what matters is that things have changed. Obedience breaks the status quo.

One challenge leads to another. Jesus would shortly ask Peter to bring the fish he had just caught and join him in a fish breakfast at the beach fire He already had burning.  Peter for a moment will enjoy the meal, and then as Scripture reports, when they had finish eating will ask Peter the hardest question that he will ever face. (John 22:1) In the providence of God, the wonderful encounters we experience today, may lead us deeply into challenging, and life changing encounters shortly after.

But it all starts with obedience. Whatever He tells you, do it. (John 2:5)