GOD’S WORD FOR  NOVEMBER 19

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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(John 6: 60-71)

Though Christ knew that many people would leave Him, He still felt the hurt.  He never accepted rejection without pain.  Isaiah predicted, “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man  of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;  and like one from whom men hid their face, He was despised and we did not esteem Him.”  (Isaiah 53:3).

Being forsaken was difficult, for He felt emotional distress.  “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”  (Isaiah 53:4).  Jesus felt grief, pain, and loneliness.

As the crowd was dispersing in disappointment and anger, Jesus turned to the twelve and said, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”  (John 6:7).   Of course, He knew what they would do ahead of time.  He was encouraging them to think about where they stood on the subject, and make a firm commitment.

This was one of Peter’s finest moments.  The divine Sculptor was begetting results.  Peter was becoming more committed to his Master; the transformation from Simon to Peter was gradual, but sure.

In the presence of the other disciples and within earshot of those in the crowd who cared to listen, Peter asked a question that should lodge like an arrow in every human heart;

“Lord, to whom shall we go?  Only You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6:68-69)

Peter was saying in effect, “The people might not like what You are saying…but what are our options?  Who is a better teacher?  Who is a better Savior?  Who knows God better than You do?  There is nowhere else to go.”

Christ has no rivals.  Contrary to the pluralists of that day and of ours as well, religious truth is just as absolute as science or even mathematics. If Jesus Christ is right, all others are wrong.  Just as one cannot walk in two directions at one time, so our hearts cannot be divided. 

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*Isaiah 50:7  ~ ~   For the Lord God will help me:  therefore shall I not be confounded:  therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

*Isaiah 58:10 ~ ~  If you extend your soul to the hungry

And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

*John 14:26~ ~ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

**Psalm 18:30 ~ ~ As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

*Proverbs 30:5  ~ ~ Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

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