Peter interrupted, 'Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials...' He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.' (9:5-6)In other words, We Need To Do Something!
After arriving back home, his disciples cornered Jesus and asked, 'Why couldn't we throw the demon out?' (9:28)Or, How Do We Do This?
The silence was deafening - they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest. (9:34)Really we're saying that We Want Credit for What We're Doing.
John spoke up, 'Teacher we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn't in our group.' (9:38)And, We Want Exclusive Rights to What We're Doing.
My heart relates to the disciples' pleas. I want the Holy Spirit to clearly show me what to do and how to do it so that I will succeed and get credit. And by the way, I want the exclusive rights to the favor that comes from doing it. I've experienced this in my marriage, parenting, ministry, homemaking, friendships, and even this blog.
Jesus' response to and plan for the disciples (and me) is, once again, disarming.
Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: 'This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him. The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.' (9:7-8)
Leaving there, they went through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know their whereabouts, for he wanted to teach his disciples. (9: 30)
'So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.' (9:35)Jesus is saying the same thing to me today - it's not about the doing or the how or the credit or the favor - it's about seeing Me, hearing Me, serving as I serve. Don't let your 'doing' get in the way of that.
Don't let your hand or foot get in God's way... Don't let your eye distract you from Me. (9:43-48)
3 comments:
I hear you, Staci. That's the way I feel a lot of the time. "Lord, just tell me what I'm supposed to do." And my motivation is usually selfish...I want things to turn out well for me. Yes, I can totally relate to the disciples in that way.
It's frighteningly easy to look away from Jesus and then just continue on merry little way, never looking back. Thanks for the reminder today of what God really wants from me. Not my effort. Not my perfection. Just me seeing, hearing, and serving Him.
Loved thinking about how I like the disciples are focusing on what we need to do. I keep hearing God say through today's reading that His ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts higher than my thoughts. When I believe. And in my unbelief too. I alone could never truly understand the transfiguration, I couldn't heal a boy with an unclean spirit, I can't be the greatest. He is. Jesus is. Jesus can.
I believe, help my unbelief Lord. I don't want to pray "if you can" prayers anymore. Change my heart, my faith. All things are possible for one who believes. Increase my faith, trust and desire to follow You. Help me, today, to be a servant who loves and loves to serve. Help me to be salty and turn away from sin to You in repentance today. Help me to see You Jesus. Amen
Oooh, this speaks to where I am on my sanctification journey. "I want the Holy Spirit to clearly show me what to do and how to do it so that I will succeed and get credit." Thanks for honestly sharing. God used that to peel back another layer. I so desperately want to get it right...but for my own good/recognition. Not for Him, His glory. Not to really see Him, serve Him. Lord, may I focus more and more on You and less and less on whether I am "doing" it right...less and less on me.
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