In the Event of the Overwhelming ...

S - Matthew 17:4-8 (NIV): "Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus."

O - Overwhelmed by God and his voice, overwhelmed by their own humanity in the overt presence of Deity, the three (Peter, James and John) fall facedown  terrified.  Religious thought will focus on the unworthiness of the three and might present a long list of why this reaction was appropriate to their sad and pathetic condition in the presence of God Almighty.  Jesus, however, takes a very different approach.  Religion affirms the need to be afraid.  Jesus touches them and says don’t do it; don't be afraid.  Religion says stay knocked down by God's greatness and Jesus say get up and stay near me.  Religion says cower but heaven says listen.  Earth/religion is always afraid of something and Heaven/God's Kingdom is pursuing all in love. Earth/religion is always adding something to our world view. Heaven/God's Kingdom always wants our attention fixed on only One … no one except Jesus.

A - A lot of things have overwhelmed me and have knocked me down in my years on planet earth.  Some were surprises, some deserved and most underserved. No matter what has knocked me down from heaven to hell, from self-inflicted to other induced, from deserved to the undeserved, the response and instruction of Jesus do not waiver because he never flinches, is relentless in his love and refuses to be ashamed to call us his friends and siblings.  The beauty for me is regardless of what has put me on the ground again Jesus offers the same instruction: Get up; Don’t be Afraid! 

P - Lord,

Thank you for this enduring and beautiful instruction regardless of knock down, fall down or just feeling down.  Today, because of you, your awesome brilliance, limitless power, extreme goodness, defiant mercy, relentless love, irrepressible life and transforming grace  I'll get up, refuse to be afraid and follow. I do love you back and fix my vision on you.

Steve