Paint Party Friday: Touch Me!

 "It is the Lord!" John 21:7

Isn't it amazing that the disciples did not recognize Jesus standing on the beach after a night of unproductive fishing?

It seemed as if Peter was going back to his old career of being a fisherman, and 6 other disciples joined him. Were they disheartened?

Confused? Rethinking what to do with their lives?

 Then they see a man on the beach, instructing them to cast their net on the right-hand side of the boat. They caught so many fish they could not haul the net in. Sound familiar? "It is the Lord!" John cried out and jumped into the water. This was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples. And they only recognized Him after they talked to Him and obeyed His suggestion. What if in our life, Jesus was always popping in and out with suggestions? But we don't recognize Him? We don't know it is God because we don't listen, we don't talk to Him, and we don't obey?

Jesus said, "Touch me..." and He showed them His hands and His feet. Luke 24:39-40

After the encounter of the two disciples with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and told the eleven disciples about it. I can imagine that were very excited and animated. While they were still speaking, Jesus appeared in their midst, and all of a sudden, they were all frightened as if they had seen a ghost. Jesus then said, "Touch me." Prove to yourself I am not a ghost, not a figment of your imagination. I am real.

Many of us do not believe that Jesus is really real, that He is alive and working in our lives, or we would live very differently. It's like this Pastor who asked his congregation to come and they would pray for rain. When they arrived, he got very angry. "Don't you believe that our prayers will be answered?" he asked. "Yes, we do!" the people insisted. "So where are your umbrellas???"

We too can "touch" Jesus like the disciples. We too can prove He is real. Jesus is the Living Word. The Word made Flesh.

 Tom Skinner was a devilish gang leader before he heard these words on the radio, "If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation." (2 Cor. 5:17) He went on to become an evangelist, and was even called the black Billy Graham. Saint Augustine's conversion from being a sinner started when he heard a childlike voice telling him to to read the Bible. The first thing he read was " Let us behave properly, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." (Rom. 13:13-14)

Our encounter with God's Word will always have an effect. Isaiah 55:11 says, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Jesus' mission continues. God's Word touches people's lives today just as it did when Jesus walked the earth.

Home

For my growing collection of 

prompts, inspirations, creative pursuits,

courageous artists and their art,

join me here at papemelroti

art and faith workshops!

Linking with

So many WONDERFUL blogfriends 

to discover here!

 Faith, Hope, Love Scripture Challenge,  Be Inspired

Word Art Wednesday, No Rules Weekend Blog Party
What We Accomplished, Wow Us Wednesdays   

     Spiritual Sundays, Womanhood with Purpose,  The Blog Strut

Random Journal Day Weekend Linkup, 

Sunday Sketches, Creativity Unleashed

Art Journal Everyday, Friday Link Party

Hearts4Home Thursdays, Dance with Jesus Friday

Thoughtful Thursday, Encourage One Another,
Creative Things, Essential Fridays, Inspire Me Fridays, 

Friday Finds, Wanda of the Watered Soul

Family Fun Friday, Inspiration Gallery

 Bible Love Notes, Sacro Speco

Les Chateau des Fleurs, Funday Monday

Simple and Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme

Sharefest Saturday, Sunday Posts

Peek into my Paradise, Thrive at Home Weekend Blog Hop
 Strut Your Stuff Saturdays, Recommendation Saturday 
Fresh Brewed Sundays, Let's Get Social Sunday Sunday Snippets

and

Thank you for dropping by!

You are appreciated!