We must learn to walk with Jesus everyday…
“Peter followed Him (Jesus) at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the temple police, warming himself by the fire.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none.”
— Mark 14:54-55
Peter, who later became a bold witness for Christ (after Pentecost), was not so valiant at the time of Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion.
Although Peter claimed that even if everyone else abandoned Jesus, he would remain faithful,
Jesus however knew the truth. The truth was that Peter would deny Christ not once, but three times in one night.
Before Peter’s denials came, something else came: a widening space between Peter and Jesus.
Although Peter was a close companion of His, when Christ was suddenly arrested, Peter (like the other disciples) withdrew in fear.
Today’s key verse from Mark 14:54-55 clearly states where he stood, “Peter followed Him at a distance.”
To walk closely with Jesus we have to walk ourselves daily through God’s Word, and I would add also we must pray every day in the spirit; as it is through this process that we are putting on the mind of Christ.
Tethering our hearts to Scripture helps grow our friendship with Jesus.
As a result, He becomes more important to us than others or their opinions of us.
The more we learn about God’s character and His ways (through our study and meditation in Scripture) the more we fall in love with Him and the less likely we’ll be to turn from Him when the crowds tempt to sway us. Or when fear of judgment or persecution comes.
Have you been following Jesus at a distance?
Walking far enough behind that you can still see Him but others don’t see you right next to Him?
Grab a Bible. Crack it. Get into God’s Word and get His Word into you.
No more lagging behind. Let’s walk right beside the Lord, unashamedly, and allow others to see our desire to be near Jesus in hopes they will long to get to know Him too.
This is especially true in these days and times, where we need to walk closely with Jesus and stay in tune with the Holy Spirit (praying without ceasing – 1 Thes 5:17) because to do otherwise could actually be dangerous.
Selah (let us pause and calmly think about these things)
________________________________
Wednesday, Oct 12
The Winning Way
by Dr Ed Young
GETTING LOST
How do you get lost?
How does lost-ness happen?
I’ve been lost in more cities than I can count, and I can tell you-I never intend to become lost.
It’s not planned.
A co-worker of mine tells the story of getting lost in Sears and Roebuck when she was about three years old.
She was in the toy department, and going from toy to toy and aisle to aisle.
When she looked up, she could no longer see her mom and dad.
She didn’t intend to get lost, but she did.
And when she did, she stood in the middle of the store and cried at the top of her lungs.
When an employee asked her what was wrong, she tearfully explained that she was lost.
He told her, “Just stand there and keep crying. They’ll find you quick.”
Sometimes we get lost through carelessness.
We just wander away, not considering the consequences.
We see something that looks attractive, and we gravitate toward it.
Then we wake up, look around, and say, “Where am I?
How did I get here?”
C. S. Lewis illustrates this in The Screwtape Letters, when experienced tempter Wormwood tells his young nephew Screwtape that a gradual approach is best to lure a Christian away from obedience.
“No crises,” he tells Screwtape. “Keep everything calm and placid.
The best and surest way to Hell is a quiet, steady slope.”
Are you lost? Are you far from God because of heedlessness or thoughtlessness or drifting?
If you are, the Holy Spirit is calling you to come home.
And God knows just where you are.
Cry out, and He will come to you and bring you home again.
Memory Verse
“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” (Matthew 18:11)
____
Come join the Adventure!
Skip 🕊️
SB SALT AND LIGHT MINISTRIES 