GOD’S WORD FOR  NOVEMBER 7

Our  book excerpt today, and ongoing,  is from “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand”  Lessons from the Life of Peter, by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

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(Read Matthew 14:22-36)

While we were visiting Leipzig, Germany, our tour guide pointed to a monument of Goethe, the author of “Faust.”  The head of the statue is turned toward the university but his feet are pointed in the direction of the Auerbach beer hall!  What a graphic picture of competing loyalties!

Each of us struggles with conflicting loyalties; we love Christ but are distracted by the lure of our sinful nature within and the pressure of circumstances without.  These compelling voices vie for our allegiance.  We sometimes feel as if our faith in God is simply not powerful enough to weather the storms.  A friend of mine with a rare disease was faithful to Christ for many years but eventually chose to plunge headlong into the rebellion of the world.  Before his untimely death from alcohol he said, “God just gave me more temptation than I could bear.”

How can we be successful in our walk with Christ?  How can we follow Him without being distracted by the world, the flesh, and the devil?  How can we follow Him with our heart as well as our head and our feet?  How do we manage the fears that would engulf us?

In Matthew 14:22-36 Christ taught Peter how to survive a storm.  If he was to be a faithful man despite impending powerful opposition, Peter would have to learn the secret of standing against contrary winds.  Again the Master Teacher chose to use a common experience to teach an uncommon lesson.  A storm on Galilee would become a prototype of the storms of life.

Christ has just fed 5,000 men—a total crowd of about 10 -15,000 counting women and children. With five loaves and two fish.  As might be expected, the multitude was impressed.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to crown such a man king?  Moses had fed the Israelites with bread; it only made sense that Messiah would outdo Moses in providing for the hungry people.

The crowd followed Christ, hoping He would not get away.  They would nominate Him king by acclamation, whether He wanted the position or not.  Surely with enough accolades coming in His direction, He could be persuaded to take such an honor.

As happened so often, Christ disappointed them by escaping from their presence.  In John we read, “Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force, to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:15).

Jesus was not seduced by their praise.  He calmly compelled His disciples to get into a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake while He sent the multitudes away.  He aborted the plans of the king-makers and escaped to the hills of Galilee to pray.  There He spent perhaps seven or eight hours by Himself in the presence of His Heavenly Father.

As the pole of a compass points north when unobstructed, so the heart of our Lord was constantly seeking the delight of the Father’s fellowship.  He seized every opportunity to commune with the One who had sent Him.  There on the hilltop the will of the Father was again clarified and the submission of the Son reaffirmed.  He knew that for now he was sent to the world to be a Savior and not a King.

THAT will come many years hence.

How strongly is YOUR compass drawn to the Lord?

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Hebrews 12:2

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

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