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More mountaintop experiences
'I WILL NOT...SPEAK OF ANYTHING EXCEPT WHAT CHRIST HAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ME.' ROMANS 15:18
One day Jesus took some of His disciples to the top of a mountain. At the top something amazing happened to Him: 'His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus' (Matthew 17:2-3 NIV).
Peter was so blitzed by the experience that he thought they should stay there: 'Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah' (Matthew 17:4 NIV) but Jesus said 'No,' and led them back down the mountain. At the bottom a crowd had gathered and immediately Jesus had to get stuck back to His miraculous work.
It's good to have mountaintop experiences with God but you can't stay there; there's work to be done! The Old Testament gives us similar pictures. The High Priest went into the 'Holy of Holies' once a year where he had the privilege of seeing the glory of the Lord but God's work was done outside amongst the people!
Amazing stuff also happened to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-4). He was carried to God's presence in sort of virtual-reality but afterwards he had to go out and get on with the job God gave him. There's a balance. We must spend quality time with God, then 'come back down to earth' with the answers needed by those around us. Getting the idea? Well what better day than today to put this into practice. Make sure you set aside time for you and God and then come down from the mountain and get to work!
written by Bob Gass
'I WILL NOT...SPEAK OF ANYTHING EXCEPT WHAT CHRIST HAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ME.' ROMANS 15:18
One day Jesus took some of His disciples to the top of a mountain. At the top something amazing happened to Him: 'His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus' (Matthew 17:2-3 NIV).
Peter was so blitzed by the experience that he thought they should stay there: 'Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah' (Matthew 17:4 NIV) but Jesus said 'No,' and led them back down the mountain. At the bottom a crowd had gathered and immediately Jesus had to get stuck back to His miraculous work.
It's good to have mountaintop experiences with God but you can't stay there; there's work to be done! The Old Testament gives us similar pictures. The High Priest went into the 'Holy of Holies' once a year where he had the privilege of seeing the glory of the Lord but God's work was done outside amongst the people!
Amazing stuff also happened to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-4). He was carried to God's presence in sort of virtual-reality but afterwards he had to go out and get on with the job God gave him. There's a balance. We must spend quality time with God, then 'come back down to earth' with the answers needed by those around us. Getting the idea? Well what better day than today to put this into practice. Make sure you set aside time for you and God and then come down from the mountain and get to work!
written by Bob Gass
