A good night’s sleep was most appreciated, Father. As I look ahead to this day I would ask for Your strength, Your patience, Your love and Your compassion. I don’t know who I will come in contact with today but may I be used of You to connect with them. Amen.

Matthew 16:20 (<<click the green)

There are quite a few areas in life where a small amount of knowledge applied can cause problems. I have worked in the jewelry department of a Kohl’s department store for over 10 years now and one of the things we do regularly is change watch batteries. Sometimes it’s a challenge to get the back off a watch but it can also be a challenge to get the back back on. Most often, if this happens, we use a press with little dies to apply even pressure to pop them back on.

Early on in my time there, I heard of an associate who used the press but didn’t realize the need to use the dies. Without the dies, there are just two metal posts, and a metal post pressed firmly to a watch crystal has disastrous consequences! Of course, it shattered!

The disciples knew quite a bit about who Jesus was and due to the Father’s revelation, it was confirmed that Jesus was truly the promised Messiah. But that term, at this time, was not understood in the way God had intended. Applying the small amount of knowledge they had could easily have had disastrous consequences! So Jesus “sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”

A while back as we studied through the Gospel of John, we repeatedly encountered the phrase, “My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4) in regards to Jesus’s lifeline. Everything, absolutely everything, comes in God’s good time. Jesus didn’t come to earth until it was time. His ministry didn’t begin until it was time. His death didn’t take place until it was time. And the proclamation that He was the Messiah didn’t occur until it was time.

Lord Jesus, may I patiently wait for Your timing – it is best. May I wait for Your direction and knowledge on how to press and when to press ahead. But also may I not hesitate to step out on faith, if that is what You call me to do. Amen.

June 4th, 2018, Mon, 6:34 am