JESUS SPEAKING

                Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written:  ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”  Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”  Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”  Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you” (Mathew 26: 31-35.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

               Peter boldly rejected Christ’s prophecy; he vainly exalted himself above the other disciples, saying, “Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”  Despite great effort, he would go on to deny the Lord three times before morning.  Without Jesus, Peter failed to maintain his faith in the midst of crippling fear (The Lord had been his comforter; his protector; and his provider; without him, Peter became as weak as any other man.)  Jesus promised that he would eventually send a replacement; after his resurrection and ascension, he fulfilled his commitment; Peter and the other disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost [the Holy Spirit is the fullness of God dwelling within the human heart.]  After receiving God’s Spirit, Peter’s strength was restored; he immediately entered a crowded temple and boldly preached the gospel.  The Peter that denied Christ leaned on his own strength; the Peter that proclaimed Christ relied upon God’s power.  For the sake of Christ, Peter went on to endure beatings, imprisonment, persecutions without number, and even death [he was crucified upside down in the city of Rome.]  Without God, it is impossible to accomplish even the simplest tasks.  With God, it is possible to move mountains.

               Peter shares the experience of divine empowerment with some other notable men of the bible.  While the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, a young Hebrew man named Moses who had grown up in Pharaoh’s household, believed it was his destiny to free his people.  One day, Moses witnessed an Egyptian task master, beating one of his countrymen.  Filled with rage, and a sense of duty, he killed the Egyptian.  In an effort to conceal his crime, he buried the body beneath the sand.  The body was discovered, and a few days later, Moses’ life was in jeopardy.  Alone, and defeated, he fled to the desert and became a shepherd.  For decades he cared for livestock.  At the age of 80 God appeared to him and instructed him to return to Egypt to free his people.  He responded by telling God he wasn’t ‘the right man for the job.’  He no longer believed he was capable of accomplishing the task.  A once prideful and self-reliant young man, had become an old man who recognized his own weakness (apart from God); he was finally ready to be used by the Lord.  The young Moses, with his own power, was unable to bury a single Egyptian.  The mature Moses, with God’s power, led a nation to freedom, and buried the entire Egyptian army beneath the waves of the red sea.

               Western culture promotes self-reliance; in the divine culture, reliance upon God is paramount.  Is there anything in your life that you are trying to accomplish on your own?  Are you attempting to endure a difficult trial unaided?  Are you struggling to overcome an addiction in isolation?  Do you look to God for provision, or are you the provider?  Your best efforts will never compare to the works of God.  No matter how large the obstacle, or how great the need, if you humble yourself, you will harness the power of the one true and living God.  Do this, and you will be able to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4: 13.)

               “Lord Heavenly Father, we honor and praise You.  You are an amazing God.  Apart from You we are weak and incapable of accomplishing good things.  Be our strength; may we rely upon You and not upon ourselves.  Give us victory over the things that cause us to stumble; may we stand firm, may we endure, and may we overcome.  May our hearts be humble, and our lived filled with joy.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

                “Take heed to yourselves.  If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (Luke 17: 3-4.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                God’s forgiveness is not without stipulation; those who desire His mercy must be merciful; those who yearn for His forgiveness must not withhold forgiveness from others.  Refusal to forgive is the first step on a journey that leads away from God.  Hatred, anger, and resentment have no place in the heart of the believer; unresolved bitterness creates division between God and man.  His true children desperately seek to be like Him; Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”   Every disciple seeks to defend the weak; to feed the hungry; to love the outcast; and to forgive others without exception or restraint (just as God Himself does.)  There are no limits to God’s perfect mercy; those who call Him Lord, are his representatives; as believers it is our duty to forgive unconditionally; reconciliation leads to revelation; for those who observe our limitless compassion have laid eyes upon the unseen and everlasting God.

                In 1956 five American missionaries flew in to the jungles of Ecuador to make contact with a hostile and war like tribe of Indians known as the Waodani.  All five men were speared to death.  The families were devastated by the loss; in one day, numerous children were orphaned, and many wives became widows.  Did the families seek vengeance?  Did they cry out for justice?  No […] instead Elizabeth Elliot (who had lost a husband), and Rachael Saint (who had lost a brother), heard the call of God and forgave the tribesmen unconditionally.  Elizabeth and Rachael continued to evangelize the natives, and the Waodani people eventually invited them in to their community.  One by one, the members of the tribe began to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.  The men who had perpetrated the murders expressed great joy in knowing that they had been forgiven by God (the women eventually formed lifelong friendships with these men.)  Out of love, the Waodani Church was born; a church that thrives to this day; they have put down their spears and have even begun to evangelize other tribes in the area (at great personal risk to themselves.)  This amazing work of God was only possible because two women were willing to completely forgive those who had harmed them; without limit or restriction.

                Forgiving others is not a suggestion, a recommendation, or a request; it is a command; a command that heals both the forgiver and the forgiven.  Animosity toward others distances us from God.  Is there anyone you are angry with?  Has someone caused you pain?  Is there someone you need to forgive?  Search your heart; dig deep; and ask God to give you the courage, and strength to let go of your resentment; to lay down your hatred; to do away with your bitterness; and in turn, He will give you peace […] and your heart will overflow with joy as you grow ever closer to the God of forgiveness and mercy. 

                “Lord Heavenly Father, search our hearts and reveal to us any resentments.  If there is hidden hatred, bring it to our attention and help us to forgive completely.  May we love as You have loved.  May our forgiveness be as Yours.  May we be kind to those who have harmed us; may we bestow compassion on those who have treated us poorly; and may we be examples of Your great mercy.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

                “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”  Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that he took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  As he prayed, the appearance of his face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening.  And behold, two men talked with him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  But Peter and those with him were very sleepy; and when they were fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him […]while he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son.  Hear him!”  When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen (Luke 9: 27-36.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                Jesus told his disciples that some of them would see God’s Kingdom before they died.  Eight days later, Peter, James, and John witnessed God’s perfect order.  They were suddenly awakened by a splendid vision; a revelation of Jesus Christ in his glorified state.  His garments were as white as snow, and they shimmered with astonishing beauty.  His face shown like the sun and illuminated Moses and Elijah (two Old Testament prophets who appeared with him.)  In the Kingdom of God, Jesus is the source of all light.  He is not just a man; nor is he merely a prophet; he is the physical manifestation of God Himself.  The Father’s glory (or light) radiates from His Son and fills every corner of heaven; those who enter the Kingdom glow as they absorb the light of Christ [In the Old Testament, Moses climbed to the top of Mount Sinai to speak with God.  During his conversation he requested that God appear to him.  For Moses’ sake the Lord refused; but he did allow him to see His glory (or radiant glow.) In Exodus 33, we read, ‘Then He said […] “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live […] So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand […] Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”  Moses had absorbed the glory of God and his face continued to shine as he descended the mountain.  The glow was so brilliant that the children of Israel were afraid; to calm their fears, Moses covered his face with a veil.]

                In life, truly incredible moments are rare; instances of such great peace and joy that if it were possible to stop time, we would live in those moments forever.  My moment occurred one summer on the shores of Lake Superior.  As a child, my family often vacationed at our cabin near the beach; we would go hiking, fishing, and boating; we relaxed around an open fire and cook hot dogs and marshmallows.  We also went swimming and water skiing, but the lake was never warm; in fact, it was down-right frigid.  One morning, my cousin and I had spent too much time in the water; (I’m sure we came out with our bodies shivering and our teeth chattering.)  Luckily there was an asphalt road right next to the beach that would heat up by midday.  On that nearly unused highway, my cousin and I stretched ourselves out like lizards; the sun warmed our backs, and the road warmed our bellies; in that moment I experienced a feeling of complete peace.   Encased in the warmth of the sun, I was whole.

                One day, the Lord’s true servants will exit this cold and dark world, and will enter in to the light and warmth of Jesus Christ (the glory of God.)  All of God’s children will live in the splendor that emanates outward from Him; and every believer will be transformed in the presence of their messiah.  Those who inherit eternal life will exist in communion around the one true and living God.  From Him flows life, and love, and peace without end.  Are you looking forward to seeing God face to face and basking in His glory?  Are you able to comprehend the goodness of that future time?  Are you prepared to enter the rest that Jesus Christ has been preparing for you? 

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we live in a cold world, but one day we will live eternally with You in Glory.  Strengthen us Father, that we may always do what is right.  May we guide others to Your Son; may we strive to save the souls of those who are lost.  May we always be pleasing to You; help us to be a light to others; that many may see our good deeds and desire You.  We look forward with great joy, to our future time with You in Your Kingdom.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.”  God bless all of you.