Remnant: Learning From The Passionate ApostleSample

Peter, James, and John became Jesus’ inner circle. For whatever reason, Jesus allowed them to witness things the other apostles didn’t get to witness. 

Right after Jesus told His disciples what would happen to Him, He took His inner circle aside and gave them a glimpse of His heavenly glory, or perfection. Whatever His reasons for doing so, Jesus’ revelation could only have encouraged the three, giving them strength to face all the hard things that would come later on. 

Peter, in particular, got caught up in the moment. Hoping to live in the peace and wonder of the moment for an extended period of time, Peter offered to build shelters where they stood. In his excitement, Peter spoke out of turn and cut the experience he’d hoped to extend short. God had to hush him up! 

Peter’s behavior in response to Jesus’ transfiguration proved he wasn’t quite ready to experience all God wanted to show him yet. He hadn’t yet learned to sit quietly, watch, listen, learn, and follow God’s lead. 

In the same situation, most of us do the same. When blessed with spiritual insight or a feeling of intimacy with God, we often get all worked up and speak and act out of turn, hoping to honor God, but actually getting in the way of His plan. Only when we learn to watch, listen, learn, and follow God’s lead will we become dependable servants, capable of fully appreciating God’s glory and drawing on His strength to minister to others. 

Just as Jesus didn’t get to become the Savior of the world on His own terms, we don’t get to follow Him on ours. 

Thank God for glimpses of His glory and ask Him to teach you to watch, listen, learn, and follow His lead so you can become a dependable servant.