Wednesday, March 6, 2013 -- The God View (1)
Wednesday March 6, 2013
Some friends of mine recently returned from a few days set aside for prayer at a retreat center on a nearby mountain. Exciting things can happen when people make a deliberate effort to encounter God. Moses climbed Mount Sinai and had a tremendous encounter with God that made his face glow. The disciples went with Jesus up a high mountain to pray and Jesus was transformed before them so his face and his clothes shone in dazzling white.
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. He had the two tablets of the covenant in his hands. His face was shining because he had spoken with the LORD. But he didn’t realize it. (Exodus 34:29 NIRV) Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. (Matthew 17:1-2 NLT)
Climbing up a mountain is not just a leisurely walk. It takes effort. It involves time. It requires discipline and determination. When we climb we exert ourselves and expend energy. Climbing moves us away from our usual circumstances and routines. It introduces risks that we don't have to face on level ground. It also opens up beautiful vistas that we could never see in the valley. Our journey with God sometimes includes times of climbing.
People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3 NLT)
God has many things He is longing to teach us. God invites us to enjoy a life that is better than we have ever known. That life is found by coming close to God. While we don't have to go to a mountain top retreat center to experience God, we do have to set aside our own thinking and become those who are willing to be taught new things by God. We need to clear our hearts and hands of distractions and pressures that keep us from being able to see life from God's perspective. Let's make every effort today to encounter the Living God.Audio for Wednesday, March 6, 2013 -- The God View (1)
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