Sunday, February 10, 2013

A Blaze of Glory

Transfiguration
courtesy photobucket.com

Each Sunday, I take notes of our Pastor’s sermon and share an edited portion with you.

Pastor Jerry was reading from Luke 9:25-38 about Jesus’ transfiguration upon the mountain.  Peter, James and John accompanied him to the mountain top.  As Jesus prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. .The men were tired, and fell asleep but they were aroused by the bright light and the appearance of Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus about things to come. 

With out thinking, Peter spoke out of turn and suggested that they build three tabernacles in memory of the three men. 

While Peter was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son.  Hear Him!   Then the cloud lifted, Moses and Elijah left and they were afraid and all was quiet.   Jesus instructed them to tell no one what had happened.  Next they returned to the valley and found trouble there needing attention.

Pastor suggested that we would be better off if we did less speaking and more listening as Peter should have done.

There might be times to build a tribute to remember something.  God instructed the Israelites to carry 12 stones from the middle of the River Jordan and build a monument of remembrance so that their children would know that God caused the river to stop flowing and there became dry land so they would walk across.

As Christians we may experience mountain top occurrences, but we cannot stay there, for we must return to the valley where our work is.

We must ask, “What is God doing now?”  There is a time to listen and a time to work.

We are to be shining examples of our Lord and to reflect His glory.

Life can get dull and complicated, and we may loose sight of what is important, then it is time to stir ourselves up, and look at the monuments in time that are examples for us.

Charles Wesley traveled over 250,000 miles on horseback, preached 4000 sermons, and wrote 400 books, ministering to thousands and leading them to receive Jesus as savior. 

We do enjoy the mountain top, but it is in the valley that we will fulfill our testimony.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father which is in heaven.”

Go forth and be a blaze of Glory for the Lord!!
 
This post is Linked up with Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday

2 comments:

Wise Hearted said...

Hazel...love this post, it is the valley;s we really see God's faithfulness because in the valley the mountains looks over whelming. Good points in this post, Encouraging my sister.

caryjo said...

My personality would probably put me closer to Peter [b/c I sometimes have the same "knee-jerk" mouth] than to Charles Wesley. However, both of them served and gave all they could in their lives to the Lord. Not perfect, but focused on Him. Peter, as time passed on, became much more God-focused and less "mouth" focused. I'd like that to be part of my life more and more, too. ;-)