Sunday School Lesson – “Peter’s Devotion Tested” Luke 22:31-34, 54-62

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VERSE DISCOVERY: Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 (KJV, Public Domain)

I have heard much said over the years regarding good intentions.  As the name of it suggests, all speaks of wanting to choose what is right, yet is often compounded by the struggle to carry it out, not allowing the plans thereof to come to full fruition.

The execution of what is good has been the slippery slope man has attempted to climb since time began.  The struggle is real.  Many people are well-meaning, but a well-meaning gesture without follow-through is as empty as if one had never made it in the first place.

Peter the determined, a fisherman who left all to follow Christ.  Peter the bold, a spokesman who declared without hesitation, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” (Matthew 16:16).  Peter the courageous, the only one in the ship who had enough gumption to try to walk on the water with Jesus (Matthew 14:29).  Yet, for all his boldness Peter would experience a test of his devotion, and he would stumble.

The Warning

Luke 22:31-34 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”

Time was drawing near.  Jesus was coming to the last leg of His race in ministry here on earth.  The shadows of evil were purposed against Him, and the plan has been put into motion.  All will come to pass on this night as had been prophesied for ages leading up to the culmination of these events.

He has been anointed by Mary before His death (Mark 14:3-9).  Judas has agreed with the chief priest to betray Him (Mark 14:10-11).  The last Passover had gotten underway when Jesus testifies of the new covenant and the ordering of the Lord’s Supper to be done in “remembrance” of Him (Luke 22:19).  With the supper ended, Jesus gave one final lesson on servanthood in the washing of the disciples’ feet (John 13:2-20).  And, after giving “sop,” He tells Judas, “That thou doest, do quickly,” (John 13:27), speaking of the carrying out of His betrayal.

The time of testing had come.  Not just for Judas, but each one of His disciples would face a faith crisis on this night.

Each one would face their own moral dilemma. Each would be confronted with the reality of their devotion. Each would have some questioning of the heart to answer for themselves.

Once, I wrote:

“What would it be like to sit across from Jesus, face to face, and have Him question your trust? Would we be able to look Him in the eye as we pondered our answer? Would our heads be bowed, feeling unworthy to lift it and look into the eyes of love pleading with us to believe? What would it be like? I imagine it would be self-revealing because in those questions we find where our hearts and our true belief lie. It reveals where we stand in our faith…” (Devotional – “Jesus Questions Trust”/©WordforLifeSays.com)

Even more so, what would it be like to not only look into His eyes but hear the words coming from His mouth, saying, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” (Mark 14:27)?

If the shock of those words wasn’t enough, Jesus specifically points out Peter and says, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…” Jesus prepared Peter by warning him of the impending temptation he would face. And judging by Peter’s response, the warning, in his opinion, was unnecessary.

He had devoted the past 3 ½ years of his life to Jesus and the ministry. As far as he was concerned, he was all-in: “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.”

Peter’s intentions were good. He had no other plans than to be by Jesus’ side, no matter what it would cost him.

Please Note: Like Peter, nobody plans on failing. But the Apostle Paul tells us, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). That is a warning not just for Peter or the disciples to pay attention to, but for us all to mind our steps and not to be boastful about who we think we are. As humans, when push comes to shove, one’s response may not be as they imagined. Therefore, we must always be on guard (1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:8).

Peter could not imagine doing anything less than standing strong and standing with Jesus through whatever He faced. Previously, Peter made a bold declaration of faith, saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68, 69).

As far as we know, Peter, like many others, is positively sure of what his response would be.

But Jesus knew better. He said, “I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”

Jesus’ prediction, unfortunately, would come to pass whether Peter believed it or not.

Three occasions would present themselves to Peter to stand firm upon his personal declaration. Occasions he would not recognize until it was too late. In this one night, he was told he would, in fact, deny the Lord Jesus Christ three times.

One may stumble and make a spiritual misstep once, but to be told that he would not only have the opportunity, but take it three times, was probably a thought Peter could not wrap his head around.

Mark 14:50 lets us know that not only would Peter struggle in his declaration, but all the disciples would: “And they all forsook him, and fled.”

The Time in Between

But before we arrive at the moment and events surrounding the arrest of Jesus and the disciples’ abandonment, we find Jesus and His remaining disciples going out to the Mount of Olives, Luke 22:39.

There, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus began to pray in agony. This was not a normal prayer, nor could its fervency be matched. The weight of the world literally rested upon His shoulders there that night. The contest between good and evil, between God and the devil, was coming to its peak for our Lord.

At all costs, the victory had to be won for the sake of the souls of humanity, the very reason His ministry led Him to earth (Luke 19:10).

So, He prayed and prayed, and “His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).  So challenging was the fight that the Bible informs us, “There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43).

Although their struggle paled in comparison to what our Lord was facing and would face, Jesus knew the disciples would face great temptation that night. Written in almost all the accounts of the gospels, Jesus warned them to “Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40; Mark 14:38; Matthew 26:41).

Their faith would be severely tested, and they needed spiritual strength to endure.

Would they stand the test of the trial?

Would their devotion to Christ hold up under the pressure of persecution?

As history tells us, after His three agonizing prayers, Jesus was betrayed and arrested (Luke 22:47-53). Everyone is gone, Mark 14:50 reminds us. Jesus is left to face the high priest and the Sanhedrin alone (Luke 22:47-53). This would be just one of the many illegal night trials held that night until its culminating purpose puts Jesus on the cross for all our sins.

The Denying Devotion

Luke 22:54-62 “Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.

55) And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

56) But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

57) And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

58) And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

59) And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

60) And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

61) And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62) And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

The proverbial stage is set, and Peter will be faced with the reality of his devotion to Jesus.

“Peter followed from afar.” Ironically, when he was first called to be a disciple, Peter gave up everything to follow Jesus closely. In fact, his devotion and closeness to the Lord led to Peter becoming one of the Lord’s closest confidants, one of His inner circle.

Now, after His arrest, we see Peter somewhat withdrawing from that nearness.

He was still following, which was more than what some of the other disciples were doing. But Peter’s following was marred by the word “afar.”

Has fear spoken to Peter? This bold and sometimes brash disciple, who normally was not afraid to be the first to speak up or to step out and try new things, now experiences some hesitancy in his relationship with the Lord.

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,” Paul once taught regarding sin (Galatians 5:9). But much of that truth can be applied here, too.

Giving space/foot to a little anxious thought caused Peter’s devotion to Jesus to momentarily spiral until we see him eventually denying the Lord with swearing in his mouth.

“Peter sat down among them.” Snuggling around a fire for either warmth or distraction, Peter wanted, most likely, to blend in and not stand out in any way.

I can imagine him trying to get his bearings on all that has happened so far, as well as trying to gauge what to do next. The fire, the blending in with the crowd, would normally offer space for that sort of contemplation. But as the next verse tells us, it was not to be so.

“But a certain maid beheld him… and earnestly looked upon him.” Peter was recognized for being with Jesus. Which at this point in his spiritual growth, he was not ready for.

Later, when Jesus does rise from the dead with all power (Matthew 28:18), and ascends back to heaven in victory (Acts 1:9), and those present in the upper room became filled with the Holy Spirit’s power (Acts 2:1-4) – that version of Peter, who became the forefront spokesman for the Kingdom (Acts 2:14-36) and this great moving of the gospel, did not mind being recognized as one who had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

Peter was then courageous for Christ.

But the version of Peter huddled by the fire most likely wished this maid would turn her eyes elsewhere and be quiet about what she thinks she knows so that he could shrink back a little bit more into obscurity.

Obscurity was not to be Peter’s friend. After she belted out, “This man was also with him,” Peter lied. The Bible tells us flatly, “He denied him.”

Putting the actual words aside for a minute, in the words Peter spoke: “Woman, I know him not,” he was already fulfilling what Jesus said about Peter’s denying response back in verse 34.

In one moment, he renounced even knowing Jesus. And this relationship that has been built over the past 3 ½ years, Peter rejected the intimacy of.

At that time, Peter’s heart had been overwhelmed by all that he saw and heard, or else he would have recalled the words of Jesus: “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33).

As a side note, Mark 14:68 lets us know that upon the immediate denial of the Lord this first time, “the cock crew.”

Did this first crowing gain Peter’s attention? Would it jog his memory, recalling what Jesus had just hours before warned would happen?

Apparently, at this point, it does not appear so.

As the story unfolds, we find, “after a little while another saw him.”

People like to use phrases and encouraging quotes about trying again when the first go-round didn’t turn out as they expected. There is this belief that the second time will yield better results if they just try again.

Thankfully, that is true on many occasions. But for Peter’s situation, sadly, it wasn’t. When confronted with the words, “Thou art also of them,” Peter’s response was, “Man, I am not.”

And neither would the third time yield better results for Peter. After “about the space of one hour,” his allegiance to Jesus was tested once again.

I wonder if perhaps, after an hour without any further confrontations, Peter thought he was in the clear or flying under the radar?

But it was not to be so. With this third and final confrontation, we are told, “Another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.”

Was it just because Peter was a Galilean that he was identified as a close confidant of Jesus? I don’t think so. For I am sure that Peter was not the only Galilean gathered in the halls or around the fire pits that night.

Nonetheless, Peter was identified “confidently” of being with Jesus. But it’s not being identified that matters. What matters most is Peter’s response to being identified.

And his response here in Luke 22:60 was, “Man, I know not what thou sayest.” Or, in today’s terms, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Either version is gentler than how Make 14:71 records this final denial: “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.”

“This man,” just a few hours ago, Peter and the rest of the disciples were enjoying the Passover meal with and fellowshipping with. This man, just a few hours ago, they were signing hymns with and celebrating.

But instead of singing and celebrating with His friends, Jesus is now preparing to go to the cross, knowing the rejection He prophesied had come to pass: “And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.”

As a momma rings the triangle to call the family to the meal, and as the bells in the church steeple toll the hour, the sound of the rooster signaled it was done. None of the boastfulness he had earlier that day was present. The only thing present at the moment was the stark reality of what he had done.

Not only had he failed Jesus. He failed Him miserably.

Words weren’t needed. Peter would feel the repercussion of his response when “The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.” One can only imagine the overwhelming sorrow and sadness Peter felt when he looked into the eyes of his friend and his Savior.

In that moment, Peter experienced the weight of his choices, and he “wept bitterly.” Words could never express the pain he felt of letting Jesus down – nay, denying Him altogether when He needed him the most.

Peter struggled with his devotion and failed. There are times when we can look back on our lives and admit the same shortcomings in faith.

But failure doesn’t have to be final.

Before Jesus died, when He was predicting the denial of Peter, He looked forward to a time when Peter would be restored and “converted” and would go on to strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:31-32).

That word “converted” gives the impression of turning back for Peter and for anyone who finds themselves in a waning state, when their faith and devotion are not up to par.

Through this, I encourage you to look to the Lord for forgiveness and restoration.

PDF Printable Sunday School Lesson Pack (With easy to read instructions following the P.E.A.R.L. format on how to conduct each lesson with areas for adding personal notes): Sunday School Lesson – Peter’s Devotion Tested 

suggested activities:

Craft Necklace: Peter’s Devotion Tested Necklace Craft

Draw the Scene: Peter’s Devotion Tested Draw the Scene

Fill in the Blank Poem: Peter’s Devotion Tested Fill in the Blank Poem

Word Search: Peter’s Devotion Tested Wordsearch  Answers: Peter’s Devotion Tested Wordsearch Answers

Crossword: Peter’s Devotion Tested Crosswords  Answers: Peter’s Devotion Tested Crosswords Answers

Word Scramble: Peter’s Devotion Tested Word Scramble  Answers: Peter’s Devotion Tested Word Scramble Answers

Blank Journal Pages: These pages, one designed for adults and one for children, can be used to bring out, remember, or write a particular part of the lesson you wish for you and/or your class to focus on.  Click>> Blank Adult and Kid’s Journal Pages to access the journal pages.

Memory Verse: Peter’s Devotion Tested Memory Verse

Why Is the Bible So Boring – NOT!

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1 Chronicles 1:24-28; 2:9-17

The Bible has consistently, throughout the years, been the best-selling book of all time. Those words printed on those pages have been read and have drawn people into the world of those who live within them more than any other literary works.

And yet, even with its popularity, many still struggle with reading, understanding, believing, and applying its contents to their lives.

While there are many fantastic stories in the Bible, lives unfolding, good and bad “characters,” and stories of wonders, miracles, and amazement, there are also places within that written word where there are only lists, such as in 1 Chronicles 1 and 2.

This particular list is just names of who begat who. It is just a list of genealogies.

One would think that for a book to be the best-selling of all time, such mundane, boring lists would not be included. Could not the space in those pages be filled with even more exciting escapades and adventures? After all, if the goal is to get even more people to read it, why not make sure their attention is always so riveted to the pages that they cannot turn away?

While it is great that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, widely read throughout the world and history, and yes, we want even more people to read it, the goal of the Bible is not just to be read, but to be believed.

The Bible is not the fascination of someone’s mind as some stories are. It is not a construct of story lines and plot twists that someone artistically wrote and put together.

The Bible is a history book. It is the history of us, of humankind. In its pages is the real writing and recording of real lives that were lived through certain periods. Their stories, no matter how amazing and miraculous, were real occurrences that unfolded for those who experienced them.

The details that some may view as boring are also a blessing. They allow us to trace those fantastic stories, those adventures, those history-making moves back to actual bloodlines, families, people, and places. This, in turn, not only proves the validity of their story but that of the entire Bible itself.

The reason that it is so important is that when we see the reality of people, places, and experiences, we can believe. Believe not only what it says about their lives, but about ours.

The Bible is the most universal book there ever was or ever will be. It is written for every human. It outlines our beginnings and history on this planet, our expectations in life, and our future.

It tells us where we have been as a people and where we are going. The stories of their lives and experiences in between show us what to do and what not to do so that we can arrive at a favored conclusion to our story.

When I come across those “boring” aspects, such as genealogy lists, I read the names. And in reading, some names will start to sound familiar, and the greatest game of connect-the-dots, the biggest picture of the most fantastic story in the world, begins to not only unfold before my eyes but come to life.

Names like Adam, the first man, are traced through history to Noah (Genesis 5), and are reestablished again in 1 Chronicles 1. From there, we see the three sons of Noah named Shem, Ham, and Japheth, with their children listed under each of their fathers.

Following the list further down under Shem’s name in Genesis 11:10-26 and 1 Chronicles 1:17-27, we see the familiar name of Abraham, through whom God promised that all the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

It is from him, Isaac appears in this great record of human history, and from him Israel (1 Chronicles 1:34). And from Israel, twelve sons were named (1 Chronicles 2:1, 2).

From these sons, Judah was highlighted (1 Chronicles 2:3; Psalm 78:68), becoming prominent over all his brothers (1 Chronicles 5:2), and announcing a great ruler who comes from him. Following the names that come from Judah, we come to Boaz, to Obed, and to Jesse (1 Chronicles 2:11, 12).

Following Jesse’s name, his sons are highlighted with David (Psalm 78:70-72), bringing up the rear (1 Chronicles 2:13-15). From here, we can continue to follow David’s lineage through 1 Chronicles 3.

Coming into the first chapter of the New Testament, Matthew 1, we see the reiteration of this great family line that has walked through history to bring forth our Savior, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-18).

He is the One reaffirmed by the Apostle Paul, saying, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3:8, 9).

My friend, do not let the lists and such distract you. Take them for the treasure they are. They are the historical references of our faith. They detail why we should believe and have faith.

Boring? Far from it! Throughout its pages we see a story beautifully written, with intricate details woven in between, by the Master Author of all time, our Father God: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

All of history is, in fact, His Story. Today, each of us is called to find our place in that story.

Start with the genealogy of Matthew, and read through the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There you will meet Jesus, the last name on that genealogy list. He is/was the one born to fulfill all the prophecies written in those historical pages about our Messiah, our Savior. He is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Follow the story of the Son of God on earth, believe His story, and you will find where you belong in it: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16, 17).

Knowing that, I don’t find it boring at all. It is pretty fantastic when you think about it.

Reignite your passion for God’s Word and let His timeless treasure be your guide: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Blessings~

Text-Free Image by Marcus Adam from Pixabay

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I feel so out of control, and that’s a good thing!

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My life lately has been like a roller coaster. There have been many changes going on. Some, quite dramatic. Some, quite honestly, I didn’t feel ready for, and yet, here I am.

Some days, I feel strong and confident. Other days, not so much.

Each day is taken on a literal day-by-day basis. It is, whatever it is going to be.

With that, the day may have tears. Or, it may come with much rejoicing in the heart. But no matter what is on the menu of the day, I have had to make a conscious effort to take a step back and trust God in this (and not just talk about it).

I am reminded of the words I wrote in Learning to Let Go!:

“A lot of times we face difficulties and challenges in life, things that stretch us way out of where we are used to being.  Then, we are asked to trust God; to just step out and depend on Him as our unfailing equipment…”

Because changes bring with them many unknowns, and it’s those unknowns that become unnerving for us. But what I, and we, need to remember is just because something is unknown to us, it doesn’t mean it’s unknown to God. In fact, the whole world, history, and all the people in it are an open book before Him.

The journey that we are afraid to take. The move we are hesitant to make, God already knows the ending of each. He is never caught off guard or surprised by the outcome, even if we are.

So, it’s okay if we don’t have all the answers. It’s alright if we feel as if our hand is slipping off the steering wheel of life, because our confidence is not in us. We know all too well the frailty and failure of the flesh.

But our confidence is in our unfailing God.

He is the same God who was there with us as we went through all the other stories of our lives, and He is the same God who knows the chapter we are currently in.

Even better, He is the same God who knows the conclusion as well.

So yes, there may be challenges that make us feel uncomfortable. Things that make us feel like life is spinning out of control. But the things that unnerve us, things we feel we can’t handle, God can.

He is our strength, peace, and hope. God is where we can rest our hearts and minds, even when everything else feels like it’s coming undone. And it’s a good thing to be reminded of that!

Blessings~

Remember this: the great King David became so distressed and discouraged at one point in his life, and the Bible says, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).

How can you find encouragement in God during the challenging times?

For me, reading the Word and being reminded of His promises helps to ground me. Also, writing this devotional helps to lift some of what I am feeling off my heart and put it on paper (and yes, my preferred writing method is still pen to paper before it hits the screen).

Find what helps you to shift your focus from your problems to God.

Prayer:

Father God, as this day opens before us, You see what each heart is dealing with. You know better than anyone the places these challenges hit us hardest. As we navigate our circumstances, help us remember that whatever feels out of control for us is never out of control for You. Help us to rest and trust in Your sovereign hand at work in our lives. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, AMEN!

Out of His Mind? | Jesus’ ministry was misunderstood. What He did about it, and what you can, too.

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 “But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.'” Mark 3:21, NKJV

Would anyone claiming closeness with the Lord today say of Him, “He is out of His mind?”

Jesus Christ was not just a world changer. He was the world changer. He had more riding on His shoulders than anyone in history ever has or ever will. Therefore, when He moved into His ministry, things didn’t look like the status quo.

Jesus did things differently. He said things differently. He treated people outside the norm. The miracles, the teachings, the casting out of demons, were in fact, very different from anyone else, causing some to say, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46) and leaving others amazed by His actions and power (Luke 11:14).

All of this caused a shakeup not only in the communities and towns He visited but also within His own family. At times, they didn’t know what to do.

Familiarity has a way of clouding the vision of those who are closest to you. The disciples who were called to leave everything and follow Him did so without reservation or questioning.

But those closest to Him (Vv. 21, 31) were not comfortable with the choice of the different path Jesus was now on. This ministry He was engaged in, the things He said and did, the way He acted, was out of the box they had conceived Him to be in.

But my friends, He could not be limited to their standards. He could not be shrunk to conform to make them feel more comfortable. He had a radical assignment on His life which called for radical moves.

I would say this is not the same little boy they grew up with, but it is the same one (technically). Only now, there has been a shift in His life that cannot go in reverse.

He is moving full speed ahead toward a destination they could not even fathom. And since His destination is beyond their current understanding, the path He must take and the choices He must make, they are not going to be understood either.

All of a sudden, His life looks strange to their familiar eyes. They cannot comprehend all this preaching business, and they think He is out of His mind!

To say they misunderstood who Jesus was is a gross understatement. They were not even close. They could have walked around the earth a million times and circled back, and still would have been no closer to His true identity and His true mission on earth at this time.

This is not how they were used to seeing Him. They knew Him as the carpenter’s son. They knew Him as Mary’s boy. But Jesus always knew who He was. He always knew His identity. He always knew His destiny. He always knew He was set apart for a one and only unique course in life.

His unique course was to bring salvation to the multitudes. At the beginning of His ministry, in Luke 4, we read of Jesus:

“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Vv. 17-21)

Jesus was misunderstood early on, so much so that after making such a proclamation, some in the crowds wanted to take His life right then (Vv. 22-30).

And as our opening text here in Mark lets us know, He is misunderstood here as well.

Some accept Jesus Christ with ready and open hearts. Others, some that are even close to Him, thought He was out of His mind.

But even though Jesus did things “differently,” He did them according to the purpose for which He was called.

He could not, would not shrink down because others misunderstood His ministry. He did not give in to the familiar. He did not let discouragement win. He stayed determined to just keep doing what He was called to do, all the way to the end.

And these three things are what each of us can also do.

If the familiar is trying to box you in, “do what Jesus did: He passing through the midst of them went his way,” (Luke 4:30).  You keep on keeping on.  Jesus didn’t stand around and try to convince them to receive Him.  Life is too short for that. His time on earth would declare as some of us say today, ‘Ain’t nobody got time for that.’  We have limited time here on earth, and God needs our gifts and ministries up and running and being effective for His kingdom.” (to read more from this article, head on over to Familiarty Doesn’t Have to Breed Contempt that I previously published).

Does all of this misunderstanding discourage you? Know this: Jesus had every right to be discouraged with the way things were, but He did not give it the opportunity. Discouragement is a pit.  The more you swim in it, the deeper it takes you under.  The fact is, we do what Jesus didn’t do; we give it the opportunity.  Jesus let nothing frustrate Him from doing what He had to do.” (for more, click on Jesus Didn’t Let Discouragement Win).

Friends, as Jesus did, we must Just Keep Doing! Once I wrote in 3 Things to Remember When Rising Above the Accusers of Your Anointing:

“Anybody who has done anything significant for His Kingdom gets talked about and attacked (see Daniel 6:4-5 and Acts 23:28-29).  Our job as individuals is to rise above the naysayers and accusers and do what God says; to be about our heavenly Father’s business no matter what. 

SO REMEMBER, if you are walking in the will of God, just keep these three things in mind when your anointing is under attack:

    1. JUST because you’re anointed doesn’t mean you won’t be attacked.
    2. KEEP their possible motives in perspective.  Often, the problem isn’t you.
    3. DOING what God anointed you to do is what matters most, regardless of the accusers.

Therefore, it all boils down to one sure-fire way to rise above the accusers of your anointing:

JUST KEEP DOING!

And that is how I concluded that message and how I will conclude this one as well.

Don’t give in to the misunderstanding of the ministry. Just do what God has called you to do.

It’s never about how people see you. It’s all about how God sees you!

Bonus Tip: When in doubt, talk to a trusted adviser, pastor, leader, or friend. Someone genuinely interested in your spiritual well-being, growth, and work for the Lord.

Blessings~

Text-Free Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

The Greatest Rescue

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life saver with far off ocean scene in the back ready for the rescue

Tell me that your heart isn’t moved when you watch a cluster of videos about heroic life-saving moments. The suspense, the adrenaline, the moving scene, and the moment when an unsung hero steps into their ordinary day to perform an extraordinary rescue.

When you see these videos, your heart is instantly captivated by the unfolding story before your eyes. Even though the videos themselves are often just seconds long, it’s as if you see a lifetime whizzing by with each person perfectly placed in their role of that life-saving moment.

You can almost feel for yourself the strength that grabbed, the energy that ran and moved into place to snatch someone from some impending doom.

Feeling so fantastically real, yet unreal, you rewatch that catch, that coming to the aid of another, that rescue repeatedly in awe, wonder, and relief.

With your held breath now released, you cannot believe what you just witnessed. Courage that was not trying to be courageous. Strength that just made itself available for the moment. Determination that stepped in when no one else could or would. Humanity at its best, we say.

“Not all heroes wear capes” is what many declare, and I can personally attest to that because the greatest hero of my life didn’t. He wore a crown of thorns and bore the pain of the cross to give me the greatest rescue I could have ever imagined.

And I am still in awe of it to this very day.

One thing that became plain to me years ago is that we all needed a great rescue. None of us was born a Christian. Oh, we may have been born in a Christian home, with Christian parents and relatives, but there is not one person on this earth that can have the testimony that they entered this world saved and in a whole, completely pure relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Scripture reminds us, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Each of us has had our B.C. (Before Christ) moments.

Previously, I wrote,

“We all have a past. We all had things that were not characterized as being a godly lifestyle. Still, even if one tried to live perfectly, we all had a place and time in our history where we had to choose to trust and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior because any personal righteousness we may have thought to have had, outside of Him, it was merely “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).” (We All Have a Past/WordforLifeSays.com).

Jesus Christ is the only spotless one. He is the one who was not only born sinless but remained sinless through His life on this earth for our great rescue.

I remember my time of rebellious living when God stepped in and saved my life. And now, today, I live on the other side of that rescuing moment.

I went from self-reliance to leaning on those everlasting arms. From dealing with anger to finding true peace. From broken relationships that were destructive and led to bad decisions and choices, to the most wholesome relationship anyone could ever experience.

Having my life now found in Jesus Christ truly is the best thing that could have ever happened to me.

I was now considered one of the redeemed. My old nature, my old life, was now something wonderfully new.

Today, my life looks completely different, inside and out. How I lived then, I don’t live anymore. How I walked then, I do not walk anymore. In the gospels, we are given this promise: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). There is now a walk of freedom! This was a promise spoken by our Lord!

At the beginning of that chapter was a woman who was caught in her own sin. To make a long story short, she found release that day from her failures, just like I did. Further down that chapter, Jesus spoke this promise (promise of freedom) for those who would believe in Him (John 8:31), then and today.

He who spoke that promise is the same Jesus Christ who was born on this earth just so that He could go to the cross and die. He is that same Jesus, whom death could not keep a hold of, because on the third day, that same Jesus rose in victory, putting death in its place once and for all. Forty days later, that same Jesus went back to heaven to prepare a place for us: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

He didn’t do all of that just for that woman or me – but for all who would believe! There is a walk of freedom anyone can experience today, but it must come through Jesus Christ only, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Then, you can experience this great salvation for yourself.

Videos are moving and their stories compelling, but the best thing you will ever experience is Jesus Christ coming to your rescue and doing for you what nobody else ever could.

Blessings~

Woman sitting quietly on a beach, looking out upon the ocean, pausing and waiting on the Lord for renewed strength.

Indefatigable!

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“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

As the new morning dawns, so does the battle with getting on with the day. Decisions must be made, as well as beds. Tasks and chores line up, each demanding attention and strength from your day.

Some are routine. Some are not. But whatever form or fashion they come in, the calling of their attention throughout the day will sap a certain amount of energy from you, exhausting you.

And sometimes all you need is a little refresher to make it through.

The Bible offers us a pause in our weary times. Just as with our daily assignments, so also must our faith be tended to and nurtured, finding a place to be refreshed.

God knows that sometimes we get tired. He sees us flagging even in our efforts to push forth. And His Word shows us the power of pausing so that we don’t run ourselves into the ground, so that we don’t become so tired that we become worn and at the end of our rope.

Here in Isaiah, we are told our strength is renewed when we wait. But not just in the waiting. Rather, when we wait on the Lord.

So much hardness of life and anxious decisions are because we run ahead without Him. We set our course, we plan our days, we push on with our purposes. And we leave out whatever the Father wanted to reveal to us during the pause. Do you see where the problem lies?

To become indefatigable, we need to be fueled by the Father. It is only then that we will have the strength to persevere.

Exhaustion is an epidemic of people doing life their way. Not only are they the choreographer of their days, but the suppliers of their own needs. Everything is contingent on what they can do.

Our faith is never due to our own exhaustive efforts. Our faith is authored by the Lord who took on Himself and completed the tasks our efforts would still be fighting to fulfill.

So it is by faith we wait. It is by faith that we confidently stand in the midst of the pause for the Father’s hand to move and be strengthened.

Enduring can only happen when we are leaning and relying upon the right Source. And when we do, then we will become indefatigable.

Fight the urge to push forward in your own strength. Rest in Him. Pause. Pray. Remember where the power of your faith lives.

It is in God, our Father. And He will never fail those who confidently wait on Him.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

Psalm 34 encouragement, praising God despite circumstances, I will bless the LORD at all times

The Choice to Praise!

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“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

In a cave, dark and dank, is supposedly where this story takes place (according to the superscription written at the beginning of this psalm which states, “A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.”)  With a musty smell invading the senses as moisture gathers on the walls and water drops may be heard echoing their song throughout, there stands one soul.

This cave is a place of hiding because an enemy has sought David’s life (more on this later).  But this cave is also a place of decision for David.  Does he let the circumstances that caused him to be here take over and have their way with his heart, mind, and emotions?  Or, does he continue in faith?

In this cave, David had to choose to believe or not to believe; to praise or not to praise.  The choice was his.  The choice is ours.

Praise is easy to come by when all is good, when all the wheels are turning in one’s favor.  But life doesn’t consist of just rainbows and roses, sunny days without a cloud in the sky.  Some days are hard.  Some days have tears.  Some days have trouble.  And yes, some days have doubts.

Being actively pursued by an enemy is one of those troubling times David faced.  As if in a weird game of cat and mouse, David was repeatedly forced to run for his life and hide as King Saul chased him down wherever he went.

Fleeing to find refuge elsewhere, David went to “Achish the king of Gath,” (1 Samuel 21:10; note: Achish is another name used in the place of Ahimelech, which we see written in the superscription noted above).  But instead of blending in unnoticed, David unintentionally caught the attention of Achish’s servants.

The truth was, David had a reputation.  First, he is known as the one who struck down the mighty champion of the Philistine army, Goliath, and killed him, who also happened to be from this very city where David was attempting to hide in now (see 1 Samuel 17:23).  Secondly, when David fought with his fellow countrymen against the Philistines at the command of Saul, and returned home victorious, the women sang songs, saying, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands,” (1 Samuel 18:5-7; 21:11).  Therefore, when he entered Gath, David was recognized.

Upon hearing that his identity was exposed and realizing he might not be as safe here as he thought, David became afraid (1 Samuel 21:12) and literally acted like a madman in front of everyone.  “He changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard,” (1 Samuel 21:13; compare to the superscription above in Psalm 34).

David put on a very convincing show that saved his life.  He was released from that place and “escaped to the cave Adullam” (1 Samuel 21:14-22:1), where many suppose the heart of this psalm was penned.

After not just this trying ordeal, but in all that he has been through, David knows that God is worthy of praise.  And not just in times of blessings and prosperity, peace and good fortune.  Even in the dark caves of life, even on the run for his life, even when he felt dejected, rejected, and neglected by others, he declared, “I will bless the LORD at all times.”

David could not see a time when God wasn’t worthy of praise.  For David, that time didn’t exist.  David has always been a praiser, and he wasn’t going to let times of affliction stop him now.  Therefore, he says, “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

“His praise” must be emphasized here.  What David was writing and singing about were not just random words to a rich melody sung from the moving depths of his heart.  No, this was so much more.  This exaltation was for God.  This sweet anthem recognizes who David, and we, stand before in the good times and the bad, and it is He who is worthy to be praised.  This is “His praise!”  All glory always belongs to Him, no matter what.

Yes, there will be days of tears and days of trouble, but there will never be a day when God is not worthy to be praised.

In hard times, it is easy to pay attention to and be filled up with things that shouldn’t be getting so much attention.  But David chooses to do something different.  Instead of making his problems bigger, he made God bigger by determining to magnify the Lord through it all (v. 3)!

If you feed faith, faith will grow.  If you feed into the fear, then fear will grow.  Which one will you choose to magnify today?

David decides to praise God no matter what. May his determination inspire us to do the same.

Blessings~

Father God, we want to honor You despite it all. Regardless of our circumstances, You will always be worthy of the praise. No matter the dark caves we may face, we desire to glorify You. We recognize today that our adoration doesn’t stop when things only look good. Our adoration belongs to You because You are good. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, AMEN!

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

 

The Power Within

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Dear one, do you not know the magnitude of the power that resides within your very being? You, who are established in Christ Jesus, have not only become a born-again child of God. But today, you are carriers of the phenomenal, unexplainable, immeasurable power inside of you.
 
No matter how dim, gloomy, or bleak it may seem, we are NEVER alone.
 
We have a Strength that is beyond our human capabilities.
We have a Force fighting for us that cannot be reckoned with by human standards.
We have the one and only true God, and He is on our side!
 
Not only is He on our side, but He resides in us through the precious gift of the Holy Ghost!
 
May the resharing of this poem encourage your hearts today as you remember the Greater lives inside of you:
 
“Greater is He that is in me!
The life inside that I cannot see.
Only feel with the passion and the burn
Love from the cross that flows unearned.
 
Glowing embers, His spirit unfolds.
Power inside of stories untold!
Ripping away all the fear and frights;
Layering on His love’s holy light.
 
The life inside has been swept and cleaned
By the Master who defeats enemies unseen.
Foes tremble, their strength can’t compare,
‘Cause greater is He now resides there.”
©WordforLifeSays
 
“𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅,” 1 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 4:4
Be blessed~

The True Treasure

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What if the treasure our hearts truly long for isn’t buried in sand—but found in the presence of God?

When I was a young girl, I was always fascinated by the idea of those who walked along the beaches or through parks with metal detectors in their hands.

I remember wanting one so badly for myself.

You could see them sway their device this way and that, back and forth, ever searching until the beeping intensified, signaling that something had been found.

Sometimes, that “something” was trash. But then there were those times when that beeping from the search led to true treasure.

For millennia, mankind has searched oceans, caves, pits, deserts, mountains, ruins, rivers, and more in search of treasure. Fascinating books have been written, inspiring the imagination of many with the adventure of finding some grand, undiscovered treasure.

And while they may be fun to read, taking us for a wild flight into fantasy, when the story ends, the adventure ends with it—and nothing remains to truly satisfy.

Where is the hope in that?

Vain is the search that leads only to temporary treasures—today’s trappings that offer no lasting satisfaction.

Jesus promised something different for the diligent searchers of the true Treasure:

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46

The search here, and the treasures found, were so grand and valuable, the response was to do all one had to do to buy that field or obtain that pearl.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” that.

In true, parable form, He described ideas or treasures in a way they could easily understand. Then, He put this spin on it.

The Kingdom of Heaven is the most precious treasure one could hope to have. But it will only be enjoyed by those who do their diligent search. Those who know its value and have made up their minds that they cannot live without it – without Him.

God sent this encouraging word to the Babylonian captives by the mouth of Jeremiah:

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

Sadly, when many read Jeremiah 29, they stop at verse 11 and set up camp there. And while, yes, God had a future promise of peace for His people, the greatest joy and satisfaction they or we will ever experience will come at the end of a heart that had made its diligent search to know God and draw nearer to Him.

When David wrote Psalm 16, he, too, exclaimed this truth, saying,

“In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (v. 11).

Anything short of the Kingdom of Heaven. Anything outside of the presence of God will eventually always come up empty. No matter what we find, no matter where we place our energy, “fulness of joy” can only be found in His presence.

Fulness means that with nothing lacking, there is no more reason for searching. God, our heavenly Father, is the answer for all the searching. Only in Him will you find your true treasure.

Father God, it is You we need above all else. When our attention is swaying back and forth like that metal detector, remind us that You are the true treasure, and that we don’t have to search for another. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, AMEN!

Friend, what has your attention today? When the pages of your life’s story close, where will you find yourself?

May your heart rest from vain searching and set its affections on the Father who only can give you “fulness of joy.”

In Christ, the adventure never stops. We get to share in His treasure for all eternity.

Before the chaos of the day begins, take a moment to reflect on your true treasure and journal your thoughts here.
Blessings~

Text-Free Image by Qubes Pictures from Pixabay

Not By My Strength

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One thing I have noticed in life, as much as we want to believe it, none of us has all the answers to everything we need. We are not the end-all. But I also found out that that’s okay. We don’t have to be everything, nor do we need to know everything. We have One who not only knows the finite things we see and deal with before us daily, but He also knows the infinite and the things we cannot see.

We don’t have to struggle as if we don’t have this heavenly hope. We don’t have to rely on ourselves when we have our Big Beautiful God, who is unmatched in everything, to rely on. We don’t have to beat against the wind with our “might” when we can lean on His and come out victorious on the other side.

I pray that as I reshare this poem with you, it blesses you today and awakens your confidence in our wonderful God:

“Not by my own strength,
it’s failing, it’s fleeting.
Relying on myself,
my life takes a beating.

It’s against the wind I fight,
expending all my fleshly might.
It’s only by His Spirit I can win,
supplied by God, the power within.

Many are searching
for the prosperous way,
forcing themselves
with striving each day.

The plans of man
are but weak and futile.
Relying on God will carry you
to the very last mile.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts,” Zechariah 4:6

Today, may we rest in this truth:
We were never meant to carry life in our own strength.

We can rely on God.
Blessings~

Text-Free Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.