How do you react when God allows something unpleasant and unexpected to affect your life? Do not miss today's edition of FaithWalk: Courage for the Journey.
The Test of Lordship
by Ron Susek
@ Golden Quill Publications
But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
(Acts 10:14)
It is quite easy to be stirred by a sermon on the Lordship of Jesus Christ followed by a moving song of dedication. Our imaginations soar to the hieghts of great conquest for God. Promises to Him flow from deep within.
Certain that you are ready to handle any request made by your Lord, you charge into a new day, only to have a net filled with unpleasantries lowered before you and the Lord says, "Eat."
All of us have had those times when we rise up with "holy spunk" to say, as did Peter, "Not so, Lord!"
Now, isn't that a huge denial of the very Lord before whom we bowed in a pleasant time? Think of what this implies! Your refusal to partake of what God places before you implies that you view your holiness and wisdom above God's. Here you are instructing the Lord God Almighty about what you will or will not do, even using a dogmatic viewpoint to reinforce your refusal to obey.
Peter had been raised in a Jewish culture that rejected God's true purpose for them and manufactured their own rules. They had come to despise the very people whom they were to love and be a witness. They not only called them dogs but considered themselves defiled to enter their homes. It was this background that caused Peter to boldly refuse to go to a Gentile's home by saying, "Not so, Lord!"
Think! How many times have you said, "Not so" to the Lord? Peter had a bad habit of saying, "Not so" to the Lord. He even told the Lord that He did not have to go to the cross. Peter must have been shocked to the core to hear Jesus say, "Get behind me, Satan."
Jesus will never call you to go against God's Word, but He will command you to go beyond your customs, traditions and prejudices that may be in violation of God's truth. This is when the battle for Lordship begins. And it falls upon you to make the choice as to which one wins, Jesus or you.
Peter eventually got it figured out and declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). May you and I establish such a strong confidence in the supreme wisdom of Jesus' lordship that He never hears "Not so!" from us.
Always remember, Immanuel: God is with you!
Your friend,
Ron
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