Lifetime Daily DevotionsSample

Like Peter

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:31

Peter:
What?
Rejected? You? Such foolishness! The people love you! When was it that you fed the four thousand--just three or four weeks ago? Surely You don't think they've forgotten that! And since when have you heard of multitudes of people following after someone as they do You? Why, You're their only hope! What You can do for them is limited only by Your own choice, and they know that. They're not about to reject You!

And suffering? You are God's Messiah. He wouldn't plan for You to suffer. Besides that, You can control such circumstances. There is no reason why You should suffer unjustly. I don't know why You're talking like this.

And as if that were not enough You talk about being killed! That is completely incomprehensible! God would not do that to us or to You . You who taught us the ways of God. You who have shown us God as we never knew Him. You who have brought hope to us. For You to be killed would ruin all of our plans! This would be absolutely disastrous to the cause -- to all the work that we have done! This just cannot be true. That's all there is to it.

Jesus:
Peter, you're looking at this from the wrong perspective. You're looking at it from a human point of view instead of from God's point of view. I know'God's ways are unfathomable, and you can't understand His ways. I agree. And yes, I am their only hope. But "hope" for what, Peter? Hope to eat again and not be hungry? Hope to walk again and not be crippled? Hope for release from pain? Ah, Peter. I am so much more than that! Hope for "today"? There is forever, Peter.

You see, you failed to mention the last thing -- after three days I will rise again. That, too, is beyond your comprehension, isn't it? But I know the plans. My Father and I made them together. It's all right, Peter. Don't discourage me, My friend. I am very confident that I am exactly where God wants Me to be at this point in time.

Anabel:
I do that, don't I, Lord? I mean that I look at things from a human point of view, thinking that God surely hasn't thought this thing through, and if He were just as astute as I am, He would do it my way.

You knew what was going to happen -- all of it -- and You still said, "I am confident that I am exactly where God wants me to be at this point in time." I don't know what's ahead, but I want very much to say with you, "I am confident that I am exactly where God wants me to be at this point in time."

Be patient with me, Lord. I want to learn. And...I love you.