Category: QuietTimes

“From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death.  Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!  But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.” Matthew 16:21-23 ->me:  Back from vacation (and the memorial service), I am now back into the swing of writing out and sending my Quiet Time applications and insights God continues to give me in my life.  This one today is a passage that, every time I read it, I cringe for Peter.  Remember, Peter had just received the amazing blessing from Jesus for his declaration of Jesus as the Messiah.  Peter, nor the rest of the disciples, could comprehend that Jesus’ mission and God’s plan were for Jesus to come and suffer and ultimately die on a cross.  Jesus needed to make an example of Peter and drive home that Messiahship is not about what THEY wanted.  In fact, what they wanted, was actually a stumbling block to the purpose of ‘the coming of the Son of God’.  When I think of how I apply this to my life today, I realize that I try to wrap myself in the wonderful love and blessing God has given me, rather than see that there is work to do.  I can easily keep myself in the little comfy bubble God has allowed me to have here on earth, but I must consistently remind myself that the real life has yet to begin; and there are preparations to be made and lives that need to hear the wonderful news of Jesus.  So, today I reflect on what God’s mission is for me.  I definitely don’t want to be a stumbling block.

“He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am?  Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17 ->me: How awesome is God to prepare this passage with an amazing conversation had on the phone yesterday!!!  There are so many things that people today will say about Who Jesus is.  A prophet like Joseph Smith, Buddha, or even Mohammad.  Some would say He was an angel and others would say He was a crazy deranged man. So, who do you say Jesus is?  This simple question will let you know right were someone’s relationship with God stands.  Who do I say that Jesus is?  The Son of the Living God.  God the Son Who knew me before this earthly time began.  God in the form of a perfect man Who out of love for me, gave up His heavenly home to come to this cursed earth to provide a way back to the Father.  A Loving Savior Who even though He knew me as a wretched sinner, still gave Himself as a perfect and lasting sacrifice for my Salvation.  A Loving Intercessor Who, TODAY, sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven to represent me, my requests, and my needs before the Holy Father.  Much, much more!!  When a recognition of Who Jesus is, is deeply embraced in one’s bones, it has been revealed by God the Father Himself; not by anything or anyone her on earth.  So, when you see someone who has fallen away from the faith, we must ask ourselves whether Who Jesus is was ever revealed to that person by God the Father in the first place.

“When the disciples reached the other side of the sea, they found that they had forgotten to bring any bread.  Jesus said to them, Be careful and on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves about it, saying, It is because we did not bring any bread. But Jesus, aware of this, asked, Why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? O you of little faith! Do you not yet discern? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:5-11 ->me: Hello all!  No, I did not fall off the face of the earth nor have I been taken up to heaven on a flaming chariot.  I have been in Southern California for a little vacation and Marianne’s Grandma’s Memorial Service (This coming Monday). I have been in the word a couple of days but took a break from my little writeups.  I have really struggled with my ‘worry’ about work. Being away at this time is brutal.  So much is happening on things I have been working on and I am not there.  More than  that, decisions are being made and I am not being included on outcomes.  I know I am supposed to be here with my family but I have been worrying about why God would provide this opportunity on this project only for this to happen.  When I read these few verses I just had to chuckle to myself feeling like Jesus is saying the same thing to me. “Ben, haven’t you seen all that I have done in your life; how I have put things together for your good?  You think I am allowing bad things to happen in your job and all I am really teaching you, is to stay patient; to beware of the doubt that can creep in when things are not going the way you think they should be going.”

“But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him]. For out of the heart come evil thoughts such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech. These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him].” Matthew 15:18-20 ->me: I don’t feel like there is anything else to say in regards to this passage. Pretty plain -> Our speech is a direct reflection of where our heart is. What we say in an empty car when someone cuts us off. What we think to ourselves when we see something in someone that repulses us. I will have to admit that the biggest issue I have to tamper my mind and thoughts with, is people posing or trying to be something they are not. I lose all respect and am sometimes disgusted by their behavior…but I think this is exactly what Jesus is talking about. The behavior I am exhibiting in response to what I see is the sin. It is the ugliness of pride and the flesh that come boiling out. When you read what I have just said, it may not sound like murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing….but it is slander. Not only that, I feel conflicted by the Holy Spirit about it today and therefore it fits the bill.

“And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent around into all the surrounding country and brought to Him all who were sick and begged Him to let them merely touch the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were perfectly restored.” Matthew 14:35-36 ->me: Passages like this one always get me thinking.  Here, Jesus gets off the boat in this area called Gennesaret (South of Capernaum), and people who knew Who Jesus was, ran into the countryside to grab those who were plagued by sickness.  These people just needed hope and that is what Jesus offered.  I was explaining this passage to Marianne and as usually happens, she has a great point of view on the topic.  As I was talking to her, I realized that it was the faith of the ‘bringer’ that led to the healing of the people they brought.  Whoa!  This adds so much to the power of my prayer for others.  Marianne also reminded me about the book we both just finished ‘The Praying Life’ by Paul Miller where he talks about all the examples in the bible about people of faith bringing loved ones and friends to Jesus (the man lowered through the roof by his friends as a great example).  When I persist in my prayers, God is listening.  My intensity and commitment to that person, matters to God.  Don’t stop petitioning the Lord for that loved one.  Then Marianne said another thing that was soo good.  These people saw what Jesus could do.  If I lived back then, and I knew there was this person who was healing people left and right, wouldn’t I take my friend Ted, with cancer, to them?  I can!  I do know personally this person Jesus, Who is not just capable of healing but is all knowing enough to know whether that healing is the best thing or not.

“But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]! Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” Matthew 14:30-32 ->me:  Ability to follow Jesus is 100% about focus and faith – Continuing with this awesome passage on Jesus walking on water, I am reminded that the point is more about Peter’s response.  Peter -> “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to you out onto the water.” —- Me -> “Lord, if this thing I am feeling my heart to do is You, make it clear that this is what I am to do.”  I think we ask Jesus to tell us what to do all the time through not only our prayers to Him asking that He show us His will, but also for confirmation of something we think He might be telling us to do —- Jesus says to Peter and us, “Come!”. Peter -> In faith, he gets out of the boat and begins to walk toward Jesus on the water! —- Me -> In faith, I move forward towards something I never thought I would do (Short Term Missions trip, Adoption, etc.).  When I am God’s word and seeking His voice in my life, I routinely jump out in confidence and faith into the void.  This is the awesome power of faith. —- Peter -> He then sees the rough seas and wind all around him and he begins to sink.  He cries out “Lord, save me!!”. —- Me -> I see all of the work, the possible security issues on my Missions trip, maybe the adoption of a child with special needs; and I start to sink into the fear and distrust that God can give me the strength I need, protect me, or give me the tools I need in the right timing.  I cry out, “Lord, help me!  Save me!”.  When I do this I am admitting I can’t do it without Him. —- Jesus, IMMEDIATELY reached out His hand and caught Peter. —- Me -> Jesus IMMEDIATELY reaches out His hand and comforts me, gives me peace, and promises to give me the strength I need when I need it. It’s all about FOCUS and FAITH.

“The boat was by this time out on the sea, many furlongs, beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them.  And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.” Matthew 14:24-25 ->me: This story about Jesus walking out to the boat on the crazy water during the storm is one of my all time favorite stories – there is so much here!!  Let’s take some things here, one by one.  1) The boat was a mile or so off shore.  It says that the boat was ‘many’ furlongs from shore (a furlong is about 1/8 of a mile) – out of view.  2) The boat was being beaten and tossed by the wind and waves and the wind was against where they were trying to go. 3) In the fourth watch (between 3am and 6am in the morning) He came within viewing distance of the boat (had to be close since the weather was so crazy) – remember Jesus had been praying since the previous evening after sending the throngs of people home.  TAKEAWAYS: Jesus knows when I am in trouble even if I can’t see Him.  When I am under tribulation and trial, Jesus comes walking in on my problems.  I love this picture that Jesus is above the fray and He can even use the crazy waves as a transport to get to those He loves.  He doesn’t take the waves and wind away, He comes to join and comfort them in storm.  It may be God’s will that I ride out a storm in my life but when I see Jesus walking in on the trouble plaguing me, I can rest in the comfort that He is in control.  I can weather the storm in peace because He is there…NOTHING can pluck me from His hand.

“And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.” Matthew 14:23 ->me:  One of the interesting things about reading the gospel of Matthew slow and deliberate like this is that you find the nuanced differences in the recollection between the gospel writers.  Here, Matthew simply says ‘He dismissed the multitudes’, but John says ‘Then Jesus, knowing that they meant to come and seize Him that they might make Him king, withdrew again to the hillside by Himself alone.’ John 6:15.  Both John and Matthew were there but have different ways of recording it.  Ok, now to the last 2 days of learning – Jesus routinely gets away to spend time between Himself and the heavenly Father.  Jesus, modeled prayer to the Father in the same way we can hook into this today.  Jesus (incarnate) was held to all the same constraints we endure here on earth today and which is why He spend time to get away to spend in prayer with His Father in heaven.  For whatever reason, this really hit home the last 2 days.  Connecting with and pursuing God the Father is hard but oh so rewarding!  Jesus understood this immensely (He had a knowledge and relationship with the Father that we have never experienced).  He would pursue and embrace the times He was able to get away in solitude to spend meaningful time with the Father.  My pursuit should be no different.  Just like Jesus, this is my way of communing with the Father…but as a benefit, I get the Holy Spirit as a helper and an intercessor in Jesus.  God hears me the same way He hears His Son because His Son is mediating on my behalf.  My Savior is my connection to the Almighty Father.

“He [Herod] sent and had John beheaded in the prison.” Matthew 14:10 ->me:  John the Baptist had an amazing ministry and had been put in prison by Herod because John had rebuked Herod for marrying his half-brother’s wife (Herodias).  Herod stuffed John away so that he would not cause more damage to his image but knowing the popularity of John, Herod stopped short of killing him.  Then, on a whim, Herodias’ daughter (Salome [likely a teenager]) asked for John’s head on a platter as a gift for her mother.  Having made a promise to give Salome anything she wanted, Herod obliged.  There is an anger that wells up in me when I read this recollection by Matthew.  I am fighting questions of how could God let this happen to the one who went before Jesus, baptizing converts and making ready the hearts of men and women to be tuned to God as Jesus came onto the scene.  First, in my heart I believe this story played out exactly how God intended.  Second, God understands our pain but His plan goes forth.  When Jesus heard of John’s death, ‘He withdrew privately in a boat into a solitary place’.  Jesus mourned the death of John – but John’s death was still part of the redemptive story.  If I look at John’s death through a different lens then I see mercy.  John was spared a painful death by being beheaded, and the Jew’s focus would now turn to the Redeemer, Jesus; and it was at this point that Jesus ministry took a turn toward the cross through teaching and healing…in fact, this is exactly what Jesus does as soon as he comes off the boat to the throng of people who had gathered.  1) I must see that the suffering of believers is part of God’s plan to build His Kingdom.  2) If I am to be like Jesus, then I am to react to these moments with sorrow for a time, but to respond in continued focus to bring more unto Himself.

“And they took offense at Him, but Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house’, and He did not do many works of power there, because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:57&58 ->me: <I started this last night but it was too late to send – You’re welcome.  🙂 >  The main phrase I have been focusing on with this verse is ‘He did not do many works of power there, because of their unbelief’.  How does this show up in my own life?  I am sorry that I keep referencing ‘The Praying Life’ book but the points made by the writer and my quiet times are so connected this week.  Some of you have heard me say that when I am in a spiritually dry season of life I will carry forward with my pursuit of God’s character and will stick to my commitments to Him in spite of the trench -> “Duty until Delight”.  What I am learning is that during those dry spells, unbelief can settle in, and that can have a direct impact on being elevated out of the ditch.  Yes, I am praying and reading God’s word but my prayers lack deep conviction that Jesus is listening, hearing my pleas for His presence and touch in my life.  Just yesterday I was talking to a dear friend at lunch and talking about how God uses these times in my life to help me see that it is not about me, it is about worship and glorifying God simply because of Who He is not because of who I want to be.  If I don’t do this with a full belief in God’s power to answer prayer, or full belief in my hope in Him, then I am cutting short the opportunity I have to see the Lord do something big.  Lastly, I need to see Jesus as GOD.  Not the ‘Handy Man’ who might show up once in a while help me fix a leak in my spiritual tank; He is the tank, He is the Power and Reason for my existence.  In the lowest moments I need to see Jesus as the Almighty God of Creation Who has chosen me, not the ‘carpenters son’.