Finding Jesus in Everyday Life and Relationships

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Meets Us in Our Everyday Places

Jesus is present and interested in the ordinary moments of our lives, not just the spiritual or religious ones. Even when we are caught up in our daily routines, our work, or our failures, Jesus stands on the shore of our lives, waiting to reveal Himself. Sometimes, we may not recognize Him at first—our distractions, disappointments, or even the “morning mist” of our circumstances can cloud our vision. Yet, Jesus cares deeply about what happens in our common places, and He desires to show His power and love right where we are. Open your eyes to see Him in the midst of your daily grind, for He is there, inviting you to notice Him. [13:37]

John 21:4-7 (ESV)
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 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. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

Reflection: Where in your daily routine do you most often overlook Jesus’ presence, and how can you intentionally look for Him in that space today?

Day 2: Pursue Jesus, No Matter Your Past

No matter how many times you have failed, denied, or distanced yourself from Jesus, He still wants you to pursue Him. Like Peter, who had denied Jesus but then threw himself into the sea to get to Him, we are invited to run toward Jesus with desperation and hope, not shame. Our past mistakes do not disqualify us from His love; instead, they become the backdrop for His grace. Just as a loving parent never stops wanting their child, Jesus’ desire for you is boundless and unwavering. Don’t let shame or regret keep you from pursuing the One who always welcomes you back. [22:56]

Matthew 26:69-75 (ESV)
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Reflection: What is one area of shame or regret that has kept you from running toward Jesus, and what would it look like to pursue Him in that area today?

Day 3: Experience Jesus’ Miracles in the Mundane

Jesus delights in showing up in the ordinary and turning it into the extraordinary. The disciples, after a night of catching nothing, obeyed Jesus’ simple instruction and experienced a miraculous catch of fish. Jesus not only provides for our needs but also invites us to participate in His miracles, even in the most routine parts of life. He wants us to experience His power and provision, not just hear about it. When you bring your emptiness, your hunger, or your lack to Jesus, He fills it with abundance and grace. Expect Him to move in your everyday moments. [27:14]

John 21:8-11 (ESV)
The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Reflection: What is one ordinary area of your life where you need to trust Jesus for a miracle, and how can you invite Him into that space today?

Day 4: Jesus Wants to Know You Deeply

Jesus’ greatest desire is not just that you know about Him, but that you allow yourself to be known by Him. He invites you to the table, to share life, to be in relationship—not just as a distant figure, but as someone who knows your heart, your thoughts, your struggles, and your joys. No matter where you are or what you’ve done, Jesus wants to know you fully and personally. Accept His invitation to come close, to be vulnerable, and to let Him into every part of your life. [30:50]

John 21:12-14 (ESV)
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. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Reflection: What is one part of your life you have kept hidden from Jesus, and how can you open that area to Him in prayer today?

Day 5: You Are Never Too Far for Jesus’ Love

No matter how distant you feel, how broken you are, or how long it’s been since you’ve sought Jesus, He still wants to know you and be with you. His love is not limited by your failures, your doubts, or your circumstances. Jesus wants to know you at every moment—when you wake up, when you go to work, when you gather with others, and when you are alone. His pursuit of you is relentless and unconditional. Rest in the truth that you are always wanted and loved by Jesus, no matter what. [33:48]

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Reflection: In what situation or relationship do you most need to remember that Jesus’ love for you is unbreakable, and how can you rest in that truth today?

Sermon Summary

We all love breakfast—it's a meal that brings comfort, familiarity, and even a sense of joy. But as much as we might crave pancakes or bacon, there is a deeper hunger in our souls: the longing for Jesus. The story of the disciples fishing after Jesus’ death is a powerful picture of what it feels like to live without Him. Some of us know that emptiness all too well—whether we’ve never known Jesus, have drifted away, or are simply distracted by the routines and failures of life. The disciples, who once walked side by side with Jesus, now find themselves lost and empty, both physically and spiritually, until Jesus appears to them again.

This encounter on the shore is not just about a miraculous catch of fish; it’s about recognizing Jesus in the ordinary places of our lives. Too often, we expect to see Jesus only in church or during spiritual moments, but He is deeply interested in meeting us in our daily work, our failures, and our routines. Sometimes, our own shame or distractions keep us from seeing Him, but Jesus is always present, inviting us to notice Him and respond.

When Peter realizes it is Jesus, he doesn’t hesitate—he throws himself into the sea to get to Him. This is a picture of what it means to pursue Jesus, even after failure or denial. Peter’s story reminds us that our relationship with Jesus is not defined by our mistakes, but by our willingness to return to Him. Just as a loving parent never stops wanting their child, Jesus’ desire to know us is relentless and unconditional.

But it doesn’t stop at pursuit. Jesus invites the disciples to experience life with Him, to share a meal, to be known. He wants more than our efforts or our religious routines—He wants relationship. The miracle of the fish is a sign, but the real miracle is that Jesus wants to know us, to be with us in every part of our lives, no matter where we are or what we’ve done. The invitation is simple but profound: pursue Jesus, experience Him, and accept that He deeply desires to know you.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus meets us in the ordinary places of our lives, not just in moments of worship or religious activity. He is present in our work, our routines, and even our failures, inviting us to recognize Him and respond. The challenge is to open our eyes to His presence in the midst of our daily grind, not just in the sacred spaces. [12:12]
2. Our failures and distractions can blind us to Jesus’ presence, but they do not disqualify us from His love. Like the disciples, we may be preoccupied with what we lack or where we’ve fallen short, but Jesus still seeks us out and calls us by name. The invitation to return is always open, no matter how far we feel we’ve drifted. [14:42]
3. Pursuing Jesus requires a willingness to move beyond shame and self-doubt. Peter’s leap into the water is a powerful image of desperate pursuit, even after denial and failure. Our relationship with Jesus is not about perfection, but about continually turning back to Him, trusting that His grace is greater than our shortcomings. [19:46]
4. Experiencing Jesus is not limited to miraculous moments; it is found in the ongoing, everyday relationship we build with Him. Just as the disciples shared a simple meal with Jesus, we are invited to experience His presence in both the extraordinary and the mundane. The depth of our relationship grows as we invite Him into every aspect of our lives. [27:14]
5. Above all, Jesus wants to know us—deeply, personally, and unconditionally. Our pursuit of Him is always met by His greater desire to know and love us, regardless of our past or present. Accepting this truth transforms our faith from a set of duties into a living, breathing relationship with the One who knows us best. [30:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:16] - The Sacredness of Breakfast
[02:24] - Confessions and Community
[03:51] - Breakfast Across Cultures
[05:03] - Life Without Jesus
[05:56] - Feeling Separated from Jesus
[06:46] - The Disciples’ Loss and Emptiness
[08:04] - The Disciples Go Fishing
[09:47] - Lessons from Fishing and Failure
[11:29] - Jesus Appears on the Shore
[12:12] - Recognizing Jesus in the Ordinary
[14:42] - Shame, Distraction, and Seeing Jesus
[17:19] - Peter’s Pursuit and Our Response
[19:46] - Peter’s Journey: Denial and Return
[22:56] - The Father’s Love and Our Pursuit
[25:34] - Experiencing Jesus in Relationship
[27:14] - The Miracle of Breakfast with Jesus
[28:30] - Jesus Wants to Know Us
[30:50] - Personal Invitation and Reflection
[33:48] - Jesus’ Relentless Desire to Know You

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 21:1-14 — (This is the main passage the sermon is based on: the story of Jesus appearing to the disciples on the shore after His resurrection, the miraculous catch of fish, and sharing breakfast with them.)

Observation Questions

What were the disciples doing when Jesus appeared to them on the shore, and how successful were they at it before He arrived? (John 21:3-4; [08:04])
How did the disciples first respond to Jesus’ instructions about where to cast their nets, and what was the result? (John 21:6; [11:29])
When did the disciples recognize that it was Jesus on the shore? Who was the first to realize it? (John 21:7; [11:29])
What did Jesus invite the disciples to do after the miraculous catch, and what was the significance of this invitation? (John 21:12; [28:30])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus at first, even though they had spent so much time with Him? What might this say about how we sometimes miss Jesus in our own lives? ([12:12])
The sermon mentioned that Jesus met the disciples in their ordinary work, not just in a religious setting. What does this tell us about where and how Jesus wants to meet us? ([12:12])
Peter’s reaction was to jump into the water and rush to Jesus, even after his past failures. What does this show about the nature of our relationship with Jesus after we’ve messed up? ([19:46])
The breakfast Jesus shared with the disciples was simple and ordinary. Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal Himself in this way, and what does it say about experiencing Him in everyday life? ([27:14])

Application Questions

The sermon talked about how easy it is to get distracted by routines, work, or even our own failures and miss Jesus’ presence. What is one area of your daily life where you struggle to notice Jesus? How could you intentionally look for Him there this week? ([13:37])
Have you ever felt like your mistakes or shame kept you from coming to Jesus? What would it look like for you to “jump out of the boat” like Peter and pursue Jesus anyway? ([14:42])
Jesus met the disciples in their work, not just in church. What are some practical ways you can invite Jesus into your work, school, or home routines? ([12:12])
The sermon said that Jesus wants more than our efforts or religious routines—He wants relationship. Are there any “religious routines” in your life that have become empty? How could you turn them into moments of real connection with Jesus? ([28:30])
Think about a time when you felt far from Jesus. What helped you return to Him, or what could help you take a step back toward Him now? ([19:46])
The story ends with Jesus inviting the disciples to breakfast, showing He wants to know them personally. What is one way you can accept Jesus’ invitation to deeper relationship this week? ([30:50])
The sermon compared Jesus’ love to a parent’s relentless desire for their child. How does knowing Jesus wants to know you—no matter what—change the way you see yourself and your faith? ([24:13])

Sermon Clips

Jesus wants to know you when you wake up in the morning and read the Bible. Jesus wants to know you at breakfast. Jesus wants to know you at work. Jesus wants to know you at school. Jesus wants to know you at microchurch. And the rest of your nights throughout the week. Jesus wants to know you when you're committed like you've never been before. Jesus will never stop wanting to know you. No matter the space. No matter the distance. No matter what you've done. Jesus wants to know you. [00:33:27] (33 seconds)

While I hope that you will pursue Jesus without relent for the rest of your life, while I hope that you have experiences with Jesus that you never could imagine, while I hope that you know more about Jesus than you did than you did the day before, my greatest hope is that you go home today accepting the fact that Jesus wants to know you. [00:30:52] (29 seconds)

Rest assured, Jesus wants us to see him. Jesus cherishes when you open up your Bible at home, when you pray for your coworkers, when you give generously to those without a home, when you fix your eyes on Jesus in your common places, in your day -to -day, and in the people in front of you. [00:27:53] (31 seconds)

But if me, an earthly father, whose love has no, or has bounds and has imperfections, can be filled with grace, passion, and want for my daughter that pursues me, how much more boundless is the love of Jesus the Father for us when we pursue him. [00:24:23] (21 seconds)

I don't know about you, but I find it wonderfully fascinating that in our effort to see Jesus, in our effort to have experiences with Jesus and pursue them, that he wants to know us all the more. [00:30:15] (15 seconds)

But Jesus wants to experience life with us as well. It's not just about, I don't, I don't, look, I don't care what you were told in kids' church, in youth group, in college, as an adult, as an adult, about your efforts. And there's plenty of scripture that guides us in those efforts. But more than anything, while we are to pursue Jesus, while we are to experience Jesus, this all starts with knowing Jesus. [00:28:30] (40 seconds)

So if we can feel that emptiness and void, how much more for those that walked with him physically here on earth could feel that void of no longer being with Jesus in their hearts? [00:07:49] (15 seconds)

My heart breaks when I begin to think about those in the room that find themselves unable to see Jesus because of your failure. Many a times in my life, I've not seen and I've felt unseen by Jesus because of my shortcomings. But even in our business, our distractions, our failures, Jesus is very much so interested in you and I. [00:14:42] (31 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does the story reveal about recognizing Jesus in everyday life?

How does pursuing Jesus deepen our relationship with him?

In what ways does Jesus show interest in common places?