It was a familiar scene. The disciples had been fishing all night but had caught nothing. (John 21:3) Then they heard a voice from the shore call out, ‘Children, have you any food?” (John 21:5) John always the perceptive one, recognized that it was Jesus asking the question. But why did the Lord ask them this question? The point was to show them their own need. He wanted them to admit their failure: “We caught nothing.” It isn’t that this was the biggest failure you ever have. After all, we have all had this happen when we have gone fishing. But Jesus was using their empty nets to illustrate a larger point. God will do the same with us. Before we can find restoration, before we can find forgiveness, we have to admit our failure. That is really hard for some people. We don’t like to admit we have failed. Worst is that some people do not even want to take responsibility for their actions. But before we can receive the forgiveness and restoration from the Lord, we must confess that we need Him. No excuses. No blame game. Just an honest admission and confession that shows we take responsibility for our own action. (Luke 15) Be encouraged.
Hard to admit:
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A. Ray Campbell was born the eldest of three children to the late Dan Campbell and the late Gloria Campbell-Cooper. He accepted Christ at an early age, having a desire for ministry in his heart. He was educated in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and later earned a BA degree in Accounting from Dillard University in 1973. Dr. Campbell was called to the gospel ministry in 1977. Licensed in 1978 and ordained in 1980, he earned the Master of Divinity Degree (1995) and the Doctor of Ministry (2012) degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). He also received a Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Christian Bible College of Louisiana, June 2012. From 1984-2005, Dr. Campbell served as pastor to churches in Louisiana and Florida. In 2000, the Jacksonville Baptist Association employed him as a Church Planter in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2004, he served as a recruiter for the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and a Church Start Specialist for the Florida Baptist Convention. In this position, he spearheaded the Southern Baptist Convention’s new church plants in 2009 and 2010. To concentrate on pulpit supply and preaching, he retired in 2013 after mentoring more than 169 churches in Central and Northeast Florida. Dr. Campbell served as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Religion and Philosophy at Bethune-Cookman University. He also served as: Adjunct Professor for the Florida Extension of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and in Pastoral Studies at Dallas Bible Institute, since 2015. Currently, he has served as Preaching Pastor for the New Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida, since 2011. Previously, Dr. Campbell served as a Pulpit Supply Pastor for the First Baptist Church of Palm Coast, Florida until 2014. Rev. Campbell has been married to the former Christine Wade for 44 years. They are the proud parents of three adult daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson. View all posts by raycampbellblog
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