Last week’s post resonated with so many of you. You wrote to me, commented on my Facebook page, and generally said you felt like it was written just for you.
This world is so dangerous. It seems to be spiraling out of control, with sentiment against the people of God growing more sour, more violent, by the minute. News reports are filled with so much negativity that I, for one, can hardly bear to watch it any more.
Just imagine if there had been a 24 hour news cycle during Jesus’ earthly life.
Bodies hanging from crosses, children ripped from their mothers’ arms and forced into slavery or the military, crowds screaming for the murderer to be released while the Innocent One was nailed clean through his wrists and ankles…
Yes, I can see why Peter faltered and, in his weakness, denied he had ever known Jesus.
Because knowing Jesus is dangerous.
Today I read on in the book of Luke. Chapter 24.
The disciples’ world was shattered as their best friend, and their hopes for the Kingdom of God to come, died on a tree. In sorrow and grief they retreated, not knowing what to do now. It was over. Hope was gone.
Suddenly the door burst wide open and a group of women stood, breathless and eyes filled with tears of wonder, words stumbling over each other as they relayed what they had seen.
“He’s alive! Jesus lives! We saw Him! He spoke to us! The tomb is empty and He lives!”
Bull.
I can just hear the men, grumbling and shaking their heads. They had seen Jesus die. No one had ever survived a crucifixion and the soldiers had even pierced his side to be sure he was dead. These women are grief-crazed and full of…
but Peter rose.
Three simple words pregnant with GRACE. The one who denied Jesus, whose last interaction with the Messiah was that long and sorrowful moment of eye contact upon denying Jesus for the third time, who had done what he vowed he would never do and was surely beating himself up inside, rose.
Could it be? It is possible? It’s not over? I have to know. I have to GO.
And Peter rose and ran to the tomb.
The biggest failure became the first follower. The fearful one became fearless. The weak one…
Well, just read the second chapter of Acts to find out what God does with the weak ones! Savor the words of Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41) and read them with the memory of Peter’s denial of Jesus fresh in your mind. LOOK WHAT GOD CAN DO!
I need this! I need to remember, as I’m raising kids and fighting off the threats that surround my family, that God is above and beyond the worst the world can throw at us! He is above Crucifixion and death, and He is certainly above social media and the 24 hour news cycle!
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2:36
Peter spoke with authority, now fully convinced of the Lordship and power of the Son of God.
Am I? Are you?
Oh, that I would learn to pray in power and the confidence of the Holy Spirit who is God within me! What would happen if I lifted my face to my Father and declared my standing before Him, as an intercessor, a member of the Holy Priesthood, His precious child and warrior? What if I prayed from a place of authority instead of timidity?
Because too often I squeak out a “please, God” instead of “this I know.”
I lament when I should be taking up my sword and standing in the gap as a warrior for my family.
I approach God with downcast eyes instead of boldness and outstretched arms.
Can you relate?
So today, sisters, let us rise and run to the tomb! Declare who Jesus IS, because he LIVES and in His might we fight for our babes and the men we love! I want to stop hoping and start knowing, praying out of a place of faith and expectation for what God IS going to do because I remember well what He has already done!
Are you in? Lace up your shoes…it’s time to run.
A Life of Simple Joys 