No One Except Jesus

 "When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus."

— Matthew 17:6-8

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

The disciples heard the voice of God the Father from the cloud and fell facedown in terror. They were shaken to their core by Almighty God's voice expressing His love and pleasure for you and commanding them to listen to you. And then you came and touched them. Lord, may I be so awestruck by the voice of God that the only thing that sets me right is a touch from you.

Next, you said to them, "Get up." They couldn't stay in their facedown position forever. You weren't going to leave them in their state of overwhelm. Lord, so often I can be overwhelmed by my fear, my inadequacy, my doubt, and I need to hear you say, "Get up. Don't stay locked up in fear. Don't remain petrified by what is to come. Get up!"

You said to the disciples, "Don't be afraid." Whether it was their holy awe of God's raw power evident in his declaration from Heaven or their human fear from an encounter they didn't fully understand, you said, "Don't be afraid." Lord, my fear can keep me stuck in neutral and satisfied with what is. I sense when you instructed the disciples to "Get up" and "Don't be afraid," it was because your work and their assignment wasn't yet complete. Neither is mine. It's time to get up and not be afraid.

When they finally looked up, they saw no one but you. Moses was gone. Elijah was gone. The Voice from Heaven had receded. Now, there was no one but you. When I look up, may I see no one but you, Jesus! Distractions and dread are gone. Diversions and dismay have disappeared. All I see is you.

Gracious Lord, as You touch me today, may I get up, no longer be afraid, and see no one except You.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No Retaliation

 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." — 1 Peter 2:21-23 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Thank you for leaving me an example of how to respond when I am verbally chastised, insulted, and torn down. You did not retaliate. No deceit was found in Your mouth. When You suffered, You made no threats. Instead You entrusted Yourself to the Father who judges Your accusers justly. Yesterday, a respected young man named Charlie Kirk, 31, who stood for righteousness and civil discourse was assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Charlie Kirk has consistently been one of the calmest and most polite among us. He listened to questions from his o...
Read more

Suffering

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, We glory in our sufferings. The word Paul uses here means to "glory in a thing", "to boast", "to rejoice." He's contrasting his previous thought that we boast or rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We rejoice in our hope of God and  we rejoice in our sufferings. The picture forming in my mind is lifting hands, shouting with joy, as I rejoice in God and then doing the same thing in the midst of my suffering. Yeah. I don't do that. I don't rejoice when suffering comes. I do the opposite. I complain. I sulk. I moan. I am irritated. I am angry. I am resentful. But do I rejoice? No. Yet this is the very thing Paul says we are to do. And it's because of the incredible fruitfulness our suffering brings. Suffering produces perseverance....
Read more

Faithful Stewards

 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." — 1 Peter 4:8-11 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This is the second time Peter instructs believers to love one another deeply, fervently. Our love for one another overlooks small offenses. Without our deep and fervent love, every little irritation becomes a grievance. It should not be that way in the body of Christ. Because this early church met in homes, hospitality was necessary. To be hospitable means welcoming people into your home, but ...
Read more