Just a Fashion Statement?
As You well know, Father, this is my day of work for worship Sunday. May I readily focus in on what You would have transpire. May Your hand, as always, be on me as I put all the particulars together. Amen.
Matthew 16:24-28 (<<click the green)
I’m sure, Lord, when You first spoke these words to Your disciples they had to be a little shocking. The word “cross” alone I’m sure brought all kinds of images. It was one thing to follow You, they had all done that. And they could probably understand and readily go along with giving up their own way in doing so. But the idea of taking up a cross and following You? They probably were wondering what they had gotten themselves into.
They knew the reality of the cross. They had witnessed its cruelty many times over. Yet, as time went along, the came to understand and even embrace what You called them to do.
What about me, Lord? I understand the concept of taking up my cross and following You…but do I unwaveringly live that way?
Our culture has embraced the cross but not in the way You intended. We see crosses everywhere – around peoples’ necks, as wall decorations, tattooed on peoples’ bodies, in both simple and intricate patterns. But do they really understand what the cross means? For the most part, they have no clue. To them, it’s just a fashion statement…not a challenge for life.
Lord Jesus, may I never take for granted the reality of the cross and the ramifications of Your actions. May I live it out, not just wear it out. Amen.
June 7th, 2018, Thurs, 10:01 am
Get Away from Me!
Father, Your presence is greatly appreciated in every moment and aspect of my life. I love feeling the guidance of Your Spirit. Thank You for enabling me to hear You and to act upon that word.
Matthew 16:21-23 (<<click the green)
I don’t think I feel comfortable in saying that Peter was so full of himself that he thought he could set You straight, Lord, but I do think he felt secure enough in his relationship with You that he could be a bit confrontational. I don’t even think he did it to make himself look good in the eyes of his fellow disciples. When You made statements of Your pending persecution and death, Peter’s brain probably stuck right there and he didn’t even hear Your proclamation of raising from the dead.
Taking You aside he was quick to say, “Heaven forbid, Lord…This will never happen to you!” Peter wasn’t being belligerent or rebellious or disrespectful – Your words just didn’t fit into his preconceived ideas. But from Your perspective, Lord, it was Matthew 4 all over again. Satan had tempted You to skip all that messy persecution and death stuff. Showing You “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory”, he said, “I will give it all to you…if you will kneel down and worship me.”
And even though Peter may not have understood the full implications of what he was saying, he incurred Your wrath with a command to get away from You. It was the furthest thing from God’s plan and Peter had plopped himself right down in the middle of it. But You brought it to a screeching halt!
Lord Jesus, sometimes well-meaning family and friends may try to give us direction but unwise council can unwittingly be passed along. Help us to seek Your face – to spend time with You – and not just go with what everyone is saying. May we listen to You and when we hear You may we act upon Your word. Amen.
June 6th, 2018, Wed, 9:00 pm
Turning Point
Thank You for answered prayers today, Father. So much need – so much pain – so much uncertainty. May I be the bearer of good tidings, bearing words of love and encouragement that all come from the core of Your being. Amen.
Matthew 16:21-23 (<<click the green)
Turning point. That is where we are. Up until this time, Lord, Your ministry has been very public but the culmination of Your time amongst us is within sight. Your public ministry is still there but now there is a more direct ministry with Your disciples. You are focused on teaching them, on preparing them for the inevitable.
Recently, I have been trying to get used to driving my truck with my in-law’s trailer being towed behind it. An empty trailer is one thing but a loaded trailer is another thing altogether. Making a turn with an empty trailer takes hardly any thought and I can slow down and turn with relative ease. But…this past week we needed to take our lawn tractor in for service and it is large and heavy. It fits onto the trailer with just a couple inches on both sides to spare. Everything went smoothly but I could sure feel the difference when I went to turn into the parking lot of where we were having it serviced. The weight of my load caused me to push on the brake more firmly and I could feel the load wanting to push me forward.
Lord, Your disciples have just been rolling along and for the most part, it’s been a good time. Relatively few humps or bumps…and that heavy load of contentment is going to make a turn – a turn into reality. They will struggle. They will be slow to follow Your lead. You will push on the brake more firmly as they want to push You forward. But more of that tomorrow…
Lord Jesus, help me to keep my load in check. May I see what You see and not be so caught up in just rolling along that I miss when turns need to be taken. Help me to yield to You, the driver of my life. Amen.
June 5th, 2018, Tues, 9:47 pm
How and When to Press
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
Small Stones Unite!
Father, I am grateful for a wonderful day! Good times of worship and fellowship with both churches and an enjoyable time with Karen for the rest of the day. As I come before You this evening, may I hear You clearly and put into action what I hear. Amen.
Matthew 16:18-19 (<<click the green)
This is one of those passages which can be a little tricky – even the notes in my Bible gave a few different ways it could be understood. But when I looked at the two verses in the Amplified Bible and the New American Standard Bible on BibleGateway.com both made a great point. The word Jesus used for Peter is the word petros means a small or detached stone. When He uses the word rock in reference to building His church upon it, He uses the word petra meaning bedrock or a huge rock.
The Amplified Bible goes on to state that, “Throughout the New Testament Christ is clearly depicted as both the foundation petra and chief cornerstone of the church… Peter explains the role of believers as “living stones” in the church which is built on Christ as the foundation and cornerstone (1 Peter 2:5-6).”
Each and every one of us is small or detached stone. By ourselves, we can’t accomplish a whole lot but when we join together and allow ourselves to be placed together upon the sure foundation – Christ – then we can accomplish great things! We truly have nothing to fear in that because we are building on Christ “all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
Again the Amplified Bible states, “The physical death of Christ will not hinder the establishment of the church nor will death overtake the church.”
In Christ we are victorious! Nothing can stand against Him, though the powers of this world try their best to do so.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for enabling us to be more than conquerors in this life. May we place all our of trust in You!
June 3rd, 2018, Sun, 9:16 pm