What was it like?

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’^[c]

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Matthew 26:31-35

As we approach Holy Week, I would like for us just to reflect a little bit on what is about to happen.  Too often I think we speed through the week, busy with all of the activities and we forget to stop and reflect what is really going on. 

Have you put yourself in the shoes of Peter?  Here Jesus takes Peter with him to keep watch while he prays.  No doubt, Peter is tired, probably bored and so he falls asleep.  It’s not that Peter doesn’t love Jesus. 

Then Jesus gets taken away to be killed, Peter is probably scared that he too could be killed for being a follower of Christ so he disowns Jesus.  I’m sure we can all picture ourselves in a situation where someone we are with gets into some trouble and we pretend not to know them.  Maybe you haven’t done it however it’s not that hard to imagine how scary it would have been for Peter and to understand why he might have done it. 

As you go through this week, I’d like to have you just put yourself in the place of the different people involved.  Imagine what it would have been like for you and how you would have reacted.  Be honest with yourself.  Really feel the emotions and feelings that those people would have been going through. 

Don’t just the let week pass, eggs get colored and baskets given without really understanding the impact of what this week means for each and every one of us.

Our Journey to Adoption, Part XV - Completion

After the final piece of adoption paperwork was approved, our adoption hearing was set for October 24! It had been over 16 months since we met the kids, 11 months since we started keeping them on weekends, and 4 months since we had kept them full time. It had also been just over 9 years since our miscarriage, 7 years since God laid it on our hearts to consider adoption, and 2 ½ years since we officially started the foster license process (when we didn’t get locked out of the building J).

The morning of our adoption, James asked to pray at breakfast and thanked God that we were adopting them. He then added “and thank you God that we get to adopt Mommy and Daddy.” I smiled. I guess in a sense we were all adopting each other! We didn’t make them call us Mommy and Daddy, but they chose to call us that over time. James called us Alice and Joe at first, then Mommy Alice and Daddy Joe and then finally just Mommy and Daddy.

Jesus has always been able to call God “Father,” but we only have that right because Jesus completed the work of atonement so we could be adopted as God’s children and receive eternal life.

John 17:1-5   After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus finished all of the work for our adoption. Have you chosen to accept it and call God your Father? If so, how well are you and I getting to know our perfect Father? Our eternal life starts now, as we get to know the only true God! How are you and I living in such a way that brings glory to our Heavenly Father?   

Alice

Tues Devo: Home field disadvantage

Hello,

As I have been reading through part of Acts lately, I was looking at the challenges faced by Paul, Barnabas, Peter and many other early church leaders. While nothing new, Jesus experienced this as well, these people faced some of the stiffest opposition from the home crowd. We often think of operating at home to be our advantage – and talk about that the most perhaps when it comes to sports. We expect locality to automatically equate to support. But, as we look to share the work of Christ and challenge others to accept Him this just is not true.

Acts 12:1-3 “Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. ” (NASB)

Acts 13:44-46 “The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” (NASB)

As I was reading 2 things about these challenges came to mind: 1) When we ask those who identify with us (locality or otherwise) to change and follow God it challenges everything inside of them – be ready for that challenge! 2) Everywhere on this earth is like playing in a visitor role – our real home field will be in heaven - these challenges are not unique to any one place or person.

But the challenges are worth it. James paid for it with his life, as did ultimately all of the disciples. What that meant for them was going to their home, and the opportunity to have eternal influence on many people – not just a temporary influence. Temporary influence is easy to have, not really challenged and not maintained…eternal influence gets the challenge, because it is maintained. One could argue that I shouldn’t call it eternal influence, but rather eternal impact.

Have a blessed day, I pray this challenges and motivates all of us.

Will Hill