Sacred Moments

 We live in a world that doesn’t appreciate silence. Everywhere you go, there is noise. If you go to the grocery store, there is music, or in the mall, you will be serenaded by some tune. People listen to the radio in their cars or some devices when walking or running. Most of us don’t know what to do with silence.

There are moments when words are inadequate—such a moment happened to Peter on the Mountain when he witnessed Jesus’ glory. It was as if the spiritual curtain were drawn back and Jesus’ glory shown forth. His glorified body radiated his clothing, and Matthew says, “His face shown like the sun” (17:2). It was only a tiny glimpse of Jesus’ heavenly glory and what his future glory will be like, but what a glimpse it was. Peter later wrote about what he saw that day and never forgot it (1 Peter 1:7).

At one point, Moses and Elijah also appeared in splendor and talked with Jesus about his impending death and resurrection. Though both men had been gone from the earth for nearly 1000 years, they were before Peter’s eyes, talking with Jesus. Peter hardly knew how to contain himself, so he said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Luke 9:33). Luke adds that Peter didn’t know what he was saying. Jesus never answered Peter, and I’m sure Peter realized this moment would have been better without words.

Many years later, Peter did some thinking about what he experienced that day, and he says that he, John, and James were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Here is what he said, “For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18).

I encourage you this week to sit in contemplation of who Jesus is. He said he is the bread of life, the living water, the light, the way, and the truth. He is the rest we long for and the peace we search for. Sit quietly and let the awe of God’s presence overwhelm you.

The Destructive Power of Jealousy

Jealousy is a reaction to something that seems unfair. We envy the position of another, and because we cannot change anything, we get angry. If we stay angry, we will become hostile, surprising even ourselves with what we can do. When a person is envious, it is as if they have tunnel vision. They cannot see what they have, but only what the other has; they obsess about it.

This was the battle that King Saul fought when it came to David. Everything about David made him jealous. After David killed Goliath, the women sang this song: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Sam 18:7).

It was a song linking Saul and David together in this victory. Still, jealousy would not allow Saul to enjoy the win even though he participated in the victory over the enemy. He could have rejoiced in the victory and shared the success, but he couldn’t. Jealousy always leads to anger, as it did for Saul. He was furious; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” (1 Sam 18:8).

Saul became so angry that he hurled a spear at David while he was playing the lyre. Jealousy leads to anger, and anger leads to hostility. Goliath never had the chance to throw his spear at David, but Saul did. It will only worsen because Saul refuses to deal with the root of the problem.

Solomon wrote, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4). Jealousy is the gasoline that fuels anger and will not let the fire die out. Jealousy harms our health, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Prov 14:30).

Jealousy and anger are strong emotions that hijack our brains and make us say and do things we would never think of doing in our everyday minds. When we realize that we feel jealousy, it is time to do the hard work of getting rid of it. First, pray and ask God to change your heart. Second, approach the person with whom you are jealous and show kindness. Jealously wants to separate us, but kindness brings us together. Nevertheless, overcoming jealousy and anger is hard work, and we must be willing to persevere until we have rid ourselves of the poison of jealousy.

Putting Emotions in Their Place

 

We are all emotional human beings—some more than others, but we all have real emotions. Emotions are essential and allow us to experience life’s greatest feelings. However, sometimes, our emotions influence us too much, and we later find out that emotionally motivated decisions are usually shortsighted. Emotions make things feel very real but can give us a false sense of security if we fail to apply logic and reason.

I loved showing the 1933 Disney version of the story of The Three Pigs to my grandkids. It’s eight minutes long, and they all loved it. As we were watching it, a simple illustration of life emerged. The three pigs all build their own houses in their own ways. The first is out of straw, the second is out of sticks, and the third is out of bricks. The first two pigs are done right away and go to play. They tell their brother they are done while he is still working and has no time for play. They sing a little song about their brother that says, “He don’t take no time to play. All he does is work all day.” The hardworking pig responds, “Play, laugh, and fiddle, but don’t think you can make me sore. I’ll be safe, and you be sorry.”

The two playful pigs are full of emotion and feel that life is good. They aren’t afraid of the wolf despite their brother warning them that only brick houses are wolf-proof. Feeling confident that they could handle the wolf if he appeared, they sing about what they would do to him, “I’ll punch him in the nose, I’ll tie him in a knot, I’ll kick him in the shins, and I’ll put him on the spot.”

Then, suddenly, the wolf appears, and they are overwhelmed with fear. All their boasting about their courage goes up in vapor. They do nothing of what they propose to do and instead run for their lives. The prophetic words of their wiser brother come true as the wolf blows their houses down. They are only safe because they run to his brick house.

The 70 disciples in Luke 10 that Jesus sent out into ministry returned with glowing reports of success. They were joyful that miracles had occurred and demons had been subject to them. They were like the gleeful little pigs so infused with positive emotions of their success that they forgot tough times could come at any time and life could return to humdrum. Jesus responded to the disciples, “I’m glad things went well for you and that you saw people healed and demons cast out, but be careful thinking you have it figured out. I saw the greatest devil cast out of heaven, but you don’t hear me bragging about it. I will tell you, however, what you can rejoice about, and that is that you belong to my father and that you have a home in heaven (Luke 10:18-20).

All too often, we are like the little pigs when things are going well, and we like to make sure we get the credit for our accomplishments. Jesus says to remember your perspective is very small, and you don’t know when things will change; therefore, boast about what will never change. Emotions are a gift from God, but they are never to be solely relied upon without logic and reason. Your position in Christ is supported by your emotions, your reason and your faith.

The Power of Contempt

When we experience the disdain of another person, especially if that person is more powerful than we are, we experience shame. That is the typical response unless we have learned to overcome this power trap. An incredible example is found in David as he went to fight the giant, Goliath, how he did not allow this trap to affect him.

Picture the scene where the armies are arranged facing each other with a valley between them. Goliath came out from the Philistine lines twice daily and shouted his challenge for someone to fight him. He had done this for some forty days. At last, there was a response from the Israelite side—a teenager was walking out toward the Philistine.

The giant moved closer to whatever was coming toward him, but what he saw infuriated him. Goliath was intimidating because of his over 9 feet height, his armor, and his weapons, but also because of his threatening language and his rage.

The giant finally arrived at the point where he could see his opponent. The sight of David filled him with rage and contempt, “He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him” (1 Sam 17:42). What he saw filled him with contempt. This was nothing more than a boy. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” The giant cursed David by his gods (1 Sam 17:34). Goliath was confident of victory and declared he would feed David to the wild animals.

To be held in contempt of another is one of the most challenging things we can endure. That disdain is only more deadly if the person is more powerful than us. A woman remembers playing basketball on a school team and even scoring the winning points. All her dad had to say was, “You run like a duck.” She never forgot those words and developed a severe weight problem from that moment on. It took her years to regain control of her weight and get over the shame.

A young man always had to dry dishes when he was young. He would ask if he could wash them. His dad would say you would do a lousy job, so no, you can dry, and that’s it. Later, this young man bought his dad a recliner for his birthday, which was a sacrifice, but his dad only complained that he didn’t like it. Later, when the young man moved out, he told his son to take it. The young man played the piano, but in his head, he could hear his father telling him that he would never play the piano as well as he could.

David overcame that contempt by knowing his identity came from God. He fought Goliath in the name of the Lord and not his own strength. This is the secret of freeing ourselves from the disdain of others more powerful than us.

I Can’t Wear That

After David convinced Saul through much persuasion that he would fight Goliath, King Saul finally consented for the shepherd boy to fight the giant. Saul, however, tried to equip David with his own armor and weapons (1 Sam 17:38-39). Saul tried to fit David in the same type of armor and weaponry that Goliath had.

However, Saul’s way could not be David’s way. He had never used such equipment, and now was not the time to start! David answered, “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them.” So he took them off (1 Sam 17:39).

There are so many applications in David’s response to Saul. First, David declared that he would not imitate someone else even though he was pressured. David’s declaration, “I cannot go in these,” was an awareness of his identity in his creator and his appreciation for his gifts.

Fathers can be overbearing with their sons, wanting them to wear their armor and take their path. Husbands can be dominating to their wives, dictating how they should be. People, in general, can be very opinionated about what someone else should be and do.

When a person has understood their place in Christ and refuses to be dragged away from his purpose for their life—they will say, “I cannot go in these.”

Pastors face enormous pressure to put on someone else’s armor. “It worked for that pastor, then it should work for me.” I have discovered over the years that it is a bondage to constantly be trying on someone’s armor, only to realize too late that it does not work. How much better to declare, “I am not comfortable with these.” I will stick with the slingshot and these few stones. God has been with me before, and he will be with me this time.

There was only one way Goliath would be defeated and that was with God’s power. No one could see it except one shepherd boy. He recognized it immediately and wondered why no one else did. He never thought twice about fighting this monster because his confidence in God was so strong.

The gospel of Jesus Christ, like the gospel of David, addresses the real need with the only solution.

 

Families need the transformative power of Jesus to change.

Marriage needs Jesus to put them back together.

Addictive people cannot change without Jesus’ help.

The sadness and emptiness only change when you know the creator.