Good Morning Friends,
“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and
John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter
than anyone in the world could bleach them.
And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with
Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it
is good for us to be here. Let us put up
three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what to say, they were so
frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and
enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no
longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.” (Mark 9:2-8)
I don’t blame Peter for wanting to stay on
top of the mountain with Jesus, Moses, Elijah and a couple of his good
friends. In fact, I’d say that most of
us would like it if that is what the church was – Jesus, a couple of Jesus’
greatest servants, and a handful of our best friends. We could learn so much from Jesus and His
servants. We’d enjoy the handful of
close friends who were experiencing the same amazing things that we were. That would be an ideal church. It wouldn’t have nearly the problems of the
church that we know now – especially if we were careful in choosing the friends
who were with us there. We could choose
mature friends and friends who were usually willing to go along with our
ideas. It would be a peaceful church and
a fun church.
The problem is that it wouldn’t be a church
that would accomplish what God wants the church to accomplish. The church was never designed by God to be a
place primarily where our needs are met.
God didn’t design it to be a place that was fun for us. God didn’t design it to be filled with peace
because everyone went along with our ideas.
God had something else in mind for the church.
He designed the church to be an outpost from
which others are reached. We gain
strength from each other so that we can be better equipped and prepared to
reach out to others and to stand for Kingdom principles in a world that is
hostile.
He designed the church to be a place where
imperfect people gather and interact with each other in ways that make us face
our own immaturities and imperfections.
That means relationships in the church aren’t always easy – but if we
allow God to use them in our lives in the way He wants to them are good for us
even when they aren’t easy.
He designed the church to be a place for
progress in our own lives and for progress in reaching the world – not so what
we think are our needs can be met and not so that it will be so much fun for
us.
No wonder God didn’t even answer Peter’s
idea. It was just too far away from what
He was trying to accomplish. Instead, He
ignored Peter and sent Jesus and the three disciples back down into the world
with a command for the disciples to pay attention to Jesus. That’s the command God gives the church, too
– Pay attention to Jesus. Listen to His
teaching – look hard at His heart – follow His example.
His, by Grace,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment