I WANT IT ALL
- Key Verse
- While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" (Matthew 17:5)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
God desires for us continually to fellowship with Him. This is how He works in us and through us.
Reflections
We live in a culture that wants it all. Now! Messages bombard us, and we buy into them. Get rich quick! Lose weight now! You get the idea. When I read this chapter in Matthew, I see we're not so unique.Up to this point in scripture, the disciples' idea of who and what their Messiah would look like was being challenged. They had expected a military commander to free them from Roman oppression. Yet, what they saw in Jesus was One who commanded the seas and set people free from disease and death. They were captivated by Jesus, but confused. When Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him up the mountain, He fully revealed to them His divine nature. Peter was hoping this event would usher in the earthly kingdom they'd been waiting for. He wanted to capture the moment, experience the event, and have it change everything.
Can you relate? I can! I want instant results. And I'd much rather enjoy the mountain top experience than the challenge of the valley. There have been times on a retreat, on a mission trip, or even during a sermon that I feel like I see God so clearly. I want to capture it. I want to stay in the moment and have it permanently and perfectly transform me.
God's response to Peter (and me) is in verse 5. He points to the person and relationship where transformation can be found. He invites us to experience a kingdom kind of peace, joy, and purpose here on earth. God simply says to listen, to abide, and to obey. That is how we renew our minds and experience real transformation. (Romans 12:2)
If I'm honest with myself, the valley moments are where I've most fully experienced God and growth. In those moments my expectations and hopes have been challenged. Yet I can articulate the lessons I've learned about who God is, His love for me, and His power expressed in my life during those times much better than from my fleeting mountain top experiences.
Discussion Questions
1. How does the cultural "I want it all -- now!" attitude seep into your spiritual life?2. Are there any ways in your journey with God in which you are more focused on the experience of God than on the relationship with Him?
3. What can you do to listen to God today?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
MATTHEW 16-20 (JANUARY 23-27)
Read Matthew 18:12-14.
* What does the shepherd do if one sheep is lost? Scripture tells us that Jesus is our shepherd, and we are His sheep. Read John 10:14.
* Jesus wants all of His sheep (people) to trust Him as their Savior. Read 2 Peter 3:9.
* How do people know and hear about Jesus?
Activity: Get a roll of toilet paper. This will represent your lost sheep. Take turns hiding the "sheep" around the house and having the rest of the family look for it. Each time you find it, stop and pray for someone you know who has not trusted in Jesus as Savior.
Comments
The views expressed under “Comments” are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Watermark Community Church.
LaRae
January 24, 2012 06:34 AM
God came out of the gleaming cloud & interrupted Peter...This is MY Son...Listen to Him! Wow, that struck me! That simple statement helped me see that really it (my walk with Christ) just boils down to that! Listen to Him! How that puts life into proper perspective for me!
Christy Thompson
January 24, 2012 07:43 AM
Pam, thank you for speaking wisdom and truth! I am so grateful to have served with you and be discipled by you. Thank you for using your moments in the valley to share the hope and love of Christ with others.
Scott
January 24, 2012 08:09 AM
Great question in #2, and I find myself under conviction! I find myself wanting the experience of God's friendship and goodness, yet I'm guilty of not even saying good morning to my God and King. Thanks for your Journey devo! I'm carrying this one into our family devo for this week!
Sue Bohlin
January 24, 2012 08:11 AM
The Transfiguration is one of my favorite Bible stories (I blogged about it here: http://blogs.bible.org/tapestry/sue_bohlin/pods_aliens_and_the_incarnation), and I'm so glad you wrote the devo about it, Pam! The Father's response to Peter's foot-in-mouth enthusiasm that put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah thunders across the millennia to anyone who thinks THEY can put Jesus in the same category as other gurus or spiritual teachers: "JESUS is My Beloved Son, people! Not anybody else! Listen to HIM!!"
Paul Rutherford
January 24, 2012 08:14 AM
Misses Hoppers, good insights. Your second question is a realization the Spirit has been bringing to me slowly the past few months. I think I've been focusing too much on experiencing God the past few years, and not satisfied with just having Him in me and in my life. Thanks for posting.
Lee Danis
January 24, 2012 09:15 AM
Great devo Pam with a lot for us to noodle on. The Journey is a great tool to help us experience growth in the valleys of our daily life. April 15th is around the corner - praying for Todd to do the v27 thing for me:)
Eric c
January 24, 2012 09:33 AM
In response to question #2: I find that when I'm focused on the relationship, the experience comes. When I do th opposite, It feels like I'm trying to put God is a box and carry Him with me so I can win at everything I do. Thanks for this devo. It brings great clarity and encouragement :)
Brandon Avance
January 24, 2012 09:47 AM
To the best foundation group leaders- Well written! I often forget in the valley how sweet the mountain top is. I pray we can find joy along the journey. Thanks for your encouragement today!
lynn henry
January 24, 2012 12:53 PM
"God simply says to listen, to abide, and to obey." This is such a good thing to hear to embrace Thank you Pam for bringing truth to me today.
Scott Jones
January 24, 2012 01:14 PM
While we grow fastest in the valley, it is great to reflect on God's blessings on the mountaintop. My absolute best mountaintop experience was on Mount Tabor (the traditional site of the transfiguration). Israeli friends were showing Patti and I some of the sights of Northern Israel. While the Jezreel Valley was clear under an overcast, by the time we reached the top of Mt. Tabor we found it shrouded in cloud. We must have been near the top of the overcast because it was a fairly bright cloud. It was also incredibly quiet - not a sound. That evening we read this passage together and were floored by how similar our experience was to what Matthew describes. Looking at our picture of the fog-shrounded trees from that day, I am reminded that God is real, and He is good. He blesses us sometimes in unexpected ways.