Love is Alive: Already Waiting for Us

Apr 26, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Charcoal Fire at Dawn

The disciples dragged empty nets toward shore after a fruitless night. Jesus stood waiting beside a crackling charcoal fire, fish sizzling, bread warming. “Come have breakfast,” He said—not “Where were you?” or “Why did you doubt?” He fed them first, tending to their hunger before addressing their mission. Their burned hands and tired shoulders relaxed as smoke curled upward. [01:03:25]

Jesus knew their exhaustion before they beached the boat. He didn’t demand explanations but provided nourishment. This resurrected Lord still prioritizes presence over productivity, rest over results. He meets physical needs to open spiritual eyes.

When life overwhelms you, notice Christ’s quiet preparations. He’s already kindling warmth in your cold places, preparing sustenance you didn’t think to request. What ordinary act—sipping coffee, making toast—could become holy ground if you sense His nearness? Where do you need to let Jesus feed you before you fix anything?

“When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’”
(John 21:9-10, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one way He’s already providing for you today.

Challenge: Light a candle during your next meal. Watch the flame while thanking Christ for His presence.

Day 2: Nets on the Right Side

Peter gripped the damp nets, muscles straining through another empty haul. Dawn’s first light revealed a figure on shore calling, “Try the right side!” The net suddenly bulged—153 fish thrashed in tangled ropes. John whispered, “It’s the Lord,” as memory flashed: three years earlier, another miraculous catch at His word. [01:02:45]

Jesus didn’t criticize their failed efforts. He redirected them. The same voice that calmed storms now turned futility into abundance. Obedience to Christ’s counterintuitive command transformed their night of lack into morning overflow.

What “right side” is Jesus pointing you toward today? A relationship needing forgiveness? A habit requiring change? He waits to multiply your surrendered efforts. Will you release what’s familiar to grasp His new direction?

“He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
(John 21:6, ESV)

Prayer: Name one area where you’ve been striving. Ask for courage to release it to Christ’s guidance.

Challenge: Adjust one daily routine today—take a different route, call instead of text—as a physical act of surrender.

Day 3: The Shield and the Secret Service

The agent lunged forward, becoming a human wall between danger and those he protected. Later, his face wouldn’t make headlines—just a blurred figure in crisis footage. Yet his instant response echoed ancient promises: “He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you’ll find refuge.” [16:18]

God often works through unnamed servants—shield-bearers reflecting His protective love. Whether Secret Service agents or nurses wiping brows, these “living psalms” remind us divine care wears skin. Christ still stations guardians in our storms.

Who has been God’s shield in your life? A teacher who advocated? A neighbor who checked in during grief? How might you become someone’s refuge this week?

“He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
(Psalm 91:11, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three protectors in your life—family, first responders, or quiet supporters.

Challenge: Write a thank-you note to someone who shielded you, even if years have passed.

Day 4: Wiping Faces in the Dark

Pam held the damp cloth gently, cooling Karen’s fevered brow in the hospice room’s dim light. No cameras recorded this sacrament of care—just love distilled into practical tenderness. Her hands remembered preschool giggles with Karen decades earlier; now they smoothed sheets with the same devotion. [19:24]

Jesus said serving the sick is serving Him. Pam’s quiet ministry mirrored the woman who anointed Christ’s feet—both offering costly love without spectacle. Eternal impact hides in small, unseen mercies.

What hidden act of care have you avoided because it feels insignificant? A text to a grieving friend? Sitting with a lonely relative? Christ sees—and sanctifies—these quiet offerings.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
(Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one reluctance to serve. Ask for eyes to see “small” kindnesses as holy.

Challenge: Perform one unobserved act of care today—wash dishes for a busy parent, leave flowers for a neighbor.

Day 5: Singing Through Heavy Sundays

Children’s voices rang out: “Jesus loves me, this I know.” Adults swallowed lumps in throats, tears warming cheeks. The simple tune disarmed defenses, carrying truth deeper than sermons. Grieving Neil, weary Pam—all found hands lifting involuntarily, remembering first faith like a child’s open palm. [36:48]

Complex problems shrink before primal truth: Christ’s love remains. The disciples’ post-resurrection confusion stilled when He said, “It is I.” Our storms calm when we return to this anchor.

When did you first grasp Jesus’ love? How might singing that childhood hymn today recenter your heart?

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
(1 John 3:1, ESV)

Prayer: Sing “Jesus Loves Me” aloud—even if whispering—as your morning prayer.

Challenge: Teach the song to a child or non-Christian friend today, explaining why it matters to you.

Sermon Summary

God notices the ordinary work people do when life feels heavy and moves into those moments with provision, presence, and an invitation to rest. National events and local losses surface grief and fear, prompting a call to persistent prayer for leaders, protectors, and those who serve. The routines people fall back on when overwhelmed create the space the heart needs to catch up with hard news, and those familiar rhythms prepare people to receive what God has already arranged. Children carry core truths learned early, especially the simple assurance that Jesus loves them, and that early formation shapes lifelong faith and resilience. The post-resurrection scene on the shore shows Jesus arriving before recognition, preparing a meal, and inviting the disciples to sit, reflect, and receive. That moment models how God prepares for human need in advance, meets people where they are, and offers hospitality that heals and reorients. As grief and uncertainty press in, the Holy Spirit ministers in quiet acts of service and familiar songs, reminding that God sustains, comforts, and calls the gathered community to keep showing and sharing love. The narrative insists on a practical faith: act in small faithful ways, care for one another, tend the young, pray without ceasing for those in harm’s way, and trust that love is already at work even when sight is clouded. The congregation receives solace in shared worship, in the simplicity of a childhood hymn, and in the steady promise that God’s faithful presence will carry the community forward. The closing summons sends people out renewed to serve the mission field, leaning on God’s everlasting arms and living as Easter people who embody a love that is alive and already waiting on the shores of life.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ meets people where they are Jesus shows up ahead of recognition and prepares what is needed before words or explanations arrive. That presence means spiritual provision often precedes personal understanding. When confusion or grief blocks sight, trust that God stands in the place of need, inviting rest rather than demanding immediate answers. Let the soul receive first and interpret later. [60:09]
2. Love waits before recognition arrives God’s grace often works quietly in the background and only becomes clear in hindsight. The prepared meal on the shore illustrates that provision and welcome can precede awareness. Remembering these moments reshapes perception of past hardships into evidence of love already at work. Look back for the hidden patterns of care. [65:26]
3. Create space for heart and mind Ordinary tasks like cleaning, cooking, or watching a simple game serve as tools to give the heart time to process what the mind cannot yet order. These practices are not avoidance but spiritual openings that allow grief and hope to find their shape. Honor those rhythms as necessary work of soul care rather than signs of weakness. [54:02]
4. Teach children the simple truth Early formation in the faith instills an anchor that endures into adult seasons of doubt and loss. The simple refrain Jesus loves me acts as a lifelong lens for interpreting suffering and joy. Investing in children’s spiritual education yields resilience and clarity for the future. [36:48]
5. Pray for leaders and protectors now Prayer disciplines the heart to hold public servants and caretakers beyond partisan frames and to intercede for those who stand between danger and the vulnerable. Persistent prayer cultivates wisdom and protection that human systems alone cannot guarantee. Commit to lifting them continuously as an act of communal care. [15:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[13:40] - Opening prayers and context
[15:17] - Response to last night’s threat
[17:13] - Call to pray for servants
[18:37] - Memorials and recent losses
[20:36] - God present in grief
[29:23] - Children called and ministry
[36:48] - Remembering Jesus loves me
[54:02] - Coping when life is complex
[57:22] - Disciples fishing and waiting
[63:25] - Breakfast on the shore
[65:26] - Love already waiting
[68:18] - Closing prayer and sending
[71:29] - Go in peace and serve the Lord

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 21:1-14 (ESV)
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 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. 12 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. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Observation Questions

What ordinary task did the disciples return to after Jesus’ resurrection, and why might they have chosen this?
What details in John 21:9-12 show that Jesus had already prepared for the disciples’ needs before they recognized Him?
How does the sermon describe the connection between routines like cooking or cleaning and processing grief? [54:43]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus asked the disciples about their catch (John 21:5) when He already knew they had caught nothing? What does this reveal about His approach to meeting people?
The sermon mentions that “love is already waiting on the shore” even when we don’t recognize it. How does the disciples’ delayed recognition of Jesus mirror moments in our lives where God’s presence becomes clear only in hindsight? [01:05:26]
How might the disciples’ return to fishing (John 21:3) reflect a human need for familiarity during times of uncertainty, and how does Jesus respond to that need?

Application Questions

What is one ordinary task or routine (like cooking, walking, or organizing) that helps you create space to process heavy emotions? How could you intentionally use that task this week to invite God into your reflection? [54:02]
The sermon emphasizes praying for leaders and protectors “beyond partisan frames.” Who is one public servant or caregiver (even if you don’t know their name) you can commit to praying for daily this month? [15:17]
How can you model the simple truth of “Jesus loves me” to a child in your life this week, whether through words, actions, or shared moments? [36:48]
Reflect on a past hardship. Where do you now see evidence of God’s provision or presence that you didn’t recognize at the time? How might this reshape how you face current challenges?
When life feels overwhelming, what practical step could you take to intentionally “sit and receive” God’s presence instead of rushing to find answers?

Sermon Clips

32s

#PreparedBeforeWeArrive

“There's a charcoal fire already burning. There's fish already laid upon that fire. There's bread already being prepared, and this is where the depths of that moment really begins to unfold because before the disciples arrived, before they brought anything in from their catch, before they explained to Jesus how long their night had been, before they explained to him what they had just lived through, Jesus had already prepared what they needed.”

43s

#BreakBreadTogether

“What did Jesus say? Hey. Come have breakfast with me. Hey, fellas. Let's eat together. Let's break bread together. Let's let's hang out. And as much as we love to eat, this is Jesus inviting them. This is Jesus inviting us to sit and simply be in his presence. Be with Jesus. Jesus sees our needs, and he welcomes us with a kind of grace that creates space for people to just simply be however it is that we are.”

45s

#JesusIsAlreadyThere

“And while they were working, while they were wondering, while they were doing their best, Jesus had arrived at the place that they would already come into. He's already there. He's already present. He's already waiting. Nothing small about that moment at all. In fact, this is everything because it shows us something about the very presence of Jesus Christ that he moves toward us, that he is present ahead of us, that his love is already in place before we can recognize where we are going to be met.”

31s

#ChristPresentInOrdinary

“Sometimes it's tough to see in the heart of the moment. Like, we're in a cloud. We can't see why everything's happening the way that it is. But over time, as we reflect, as we look back, we begin to notice, we come to see that we have been met again and again in ways that we did not fully recognize in the moment, that Christ has been present in the middle of our ordinary.”

30s

#GraceAtWork

“Christ has been present in the midst of our extraordinary in every single type of day in between. That grace has been at work in quiet and steady ways. Sometimes grace has been at work in loud and firm ways with us. God's love already there. And so we continue forward.”

38s

#ResurrectionChangedEverything

“Think about it. Jesus, their beloved teacher, the one that they've been following, their rabbi, he's been on trial. He was killed. He was placed in a tomb, and they have seen the risen Jesus. They have stood in the reality and the power of resurrection. They know in a deep and undeniable way that something well, I would say everything has changed, and yet it doesn't make sense.”

39s

#EmptyNets

“And so they go out onto the water and they cast their nets and they work through the night. They're moving through the rhythms that have shaped them their entire life. Let's remember, they are professional fishermen. They know what they are doing, and this is something that is grounding for them. This is their kind of work. They know how to do this. This allows them to keep moving as everything is starting to unfold in their hearts and minds, and the night stretches on, and their nets remain empty.”

41s

#MindsCatchUpWithHearts

“We are giving ourselves time. We are allowing our minds to catch up with our hearts, and that's where our gospel story meets us today. Because when we meet up with the disciples in the part of this Eastertide message, this is the exact kind of space where something life changing has already happened, and yet they are still living into what it will actually mean. They're still holding together what they have experienced and how it is shaping what will come next for them. Just think about it.”

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Love is Alive: Already Waiting for Us

Devotional

Day 1: Charcoal Fire at Dawn

Day 2: Nets on the Right Side

Day 3: The Shield and the Secret Service

Day 4: Wiping Faces in the Dark

Day 5: Singing Through Heavy Sundays

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Love is Alive: Already Waiting for Us

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