The Fire Was Already Lit

Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. When the disciples hauled their heavy catch to shore, exhausted and waterlogged, they found that Jesus had not waited for them to provide. A charcoal fire was burning. Fish were already on it. Bread was ready. He asked them to bring some of their catch — not because He needed it, but because participation matters to Him. The provision preceded the labor. This is the pastoral edge worth sitting with: we often assume that God waits to act until we have performed sufficiently. But here, the fire was already lit before the boat reached the beach. Jesus is not a contractor waiting on your materials. He is a host who prepares before guests arrive. Your work is real and worth doing — but it does not initiate His care. Notice today where something good was waiting for you before you thought to ask for it. — Narrow Highway devotional, 2026-06-10