Comments on: March 2: Telling Jesus he is wrong

By: patricia

patricia — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:37:26 +0000

So often the path of Christ brings circumstances that can cause fear; often due to the loss of our own plans.But God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. He will go before and make the rough places smooth. The problem is trust, and the “path” is to allow His living in us. May God the Father be pleased, as we step aside from ourselves and let Jesus His Son be glorified in is..

By: Patty Seyler

Patty Seyler — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 14:43:48 +0000

I absolutely agree. It is so hard to let go of self and let God isn’t it?

By: Mervyn Carapiet

Mervyn Carapiet — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:52:16 +0000

Thank you, Nate, for reminding me quite forcefully that I cannot settle down comfortably, expecting the love of Jesus to arrange my situations in advance. Christ is not a bulldozer clearing my path before me; rather, he is the bulldozer pushing me from behind. And I should be grateful.
With every good wish for the joyous season of Lent.
Mervyn Carapiet

By: Gary Olsen-Hasek

Gary Olsen-Hasek — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:26:29 +0000

Many of us are desiring safety (and that is part of shalom), but it can be too much of an occupation when Jesus challenges us to risk. Perhaps we need Christian education material and life experience through church that models courage, speaking-up as well as living for the sake of God’s reign.

By: Elizabeth S.O.

Elizabeth S.O. — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:43:57 +0000

The main idea of your devotional is something I have struggled with many times – in fact, it’s probably the main thing I am struggling with this Lent – the idea that we ought to make room for God’s plans instead of just following our own. I know I have my own plans for my life, for instance, and, reading this devotional, I realize that I need to let go of the parts of my plan that don’t accord with God’s plan. However, a thought just occurred to me: If we are truly following God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, our plan and His will be the same. So then, the question your devotional has raised for me is, am I truly following God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength? Sorry for such a long-winded comment, but at least it shows you how thought-provoking your devotional was for me.

By: julia

julia — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:38:08 +0000

“We build safe lives, consuming Christ’s love but not allowing it to flow out of us.”
I’ve do this, staying in my comfort zone. I don’t even know what it is like to suffer like Christ.
Thank-you for the reminder.

By: Lorene

Lorene — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:30:44 +0000

Thank you for proding my thinking this a.m. and contemplation on the suffering with and for Christ’s sake.

By: Jim Brenneman, GC President

Jim Brenneman, GC President — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:22:12 +0000

Nate, Your italicizing the word “embrace” it — suffering for Christ’s sake, that is — roused me from a complacent morning. Thanks.

By: michaeldanner

michaeldanner — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:33:13 +0000

Opps! That should have been “Peter rightly professes ‘Jesus is Lord!’” not “Jesus”…

By: michaeldanner

michaeldanner — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:32:08 +0000

I would go one step further. Jesus didn’t just compare Peter to Satan. The thrust of Jesus’ rebuke was that in and through Peter’s rebuke Satan was actively at work, opposing the things of God. That opens up troubling questions about our own following. Jesus rightly profess “Jesus is Lord!” but his actions were a hindrance to what God was doing through Jesus for the world. His opposition was another real temptation from Satan for Jesus to forego the way of the cross. In what ways do we profess “Jesus is Lord” with our lips and act in opposition to His shalom building work in the world?