The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here” (Matthew 17:4).

Peter, James, and John were about to see a glorious sight. Bringing them up into a high mountain, the Lord Jesus Christ was about to be transfigured before them. In a very real sense, He was going to pull the curtain back just a little and reveal a tiny bit of His pre-incarnate, Shekinah glory. No wonder Peter said, “It is good for us to be here.” Someday we believers will see the Lord Jesus in His tremendous glory. Do you have a moment to look up John 17:24? There the Lord Jesus, on the night before He goes to the cross, prays and shares with the Father how much He is looking forward to those who are given to Him seeing His glory. The day is coming that you and I will no doubt say to the Lord, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” This has a profound impact on how I am living in the world today (1 John 3:1-3).

For today: I am looking forward to the day that I meet the Lord and see His glory. I love Him today. But I know I will be overwhelmed with His love on that day.

“What thinkest thou Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto Him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou shalt open his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee” (Matthew 17:25-27).

What an interesting situation in which Peter finds himself. He was asked if the Master paid taxes. Peter seems to answer that of course the Master paid taxes. Within a short time the Lord Jesus discusses this with Peter. As the royal One, He should be exempt from taxes. But He goes on to explain something profound to Peter. “Notwithstanding lest we should offend them,” the Lord Jesus says, “go to the sea and go fishing.” Miraculously just as the Lord said, the very first fish to be caught had the money in its mouth. The taxes were paid, even though technically the Master would not be required to pay them. I am struck by not only our great Lord’s omniscience. I am struck with His graciousness and goodness. I am challenged in my attitudes and actions in matters that extend from being gracious in my walk to being faithful in paying my taxes. Good reminder today for me. How about you? How does this text apply to your life?

For today: As I follow the Lord, I will be careful about every detail of my life. I want to live for Him.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

I live with pain. Though I am in a period of time that my pain levels are somewhat better, the pain is not gone. I can identify with this. Leslie came to her pastor with tears in her eyes. “Pastor,” she said, “the time has come for me to resign as the pianist. My arthritis has gotten so bad that I can no longer play the piano. This has been the ministry that I have loved doing for over thirty years. I am so sorry to resign,” Leslie conceded. Her pastor understood. He said to her, “Leslie, you are a valued ministry partner. Though you can’t play the piano, I want you to stay on the ministry team. Every Thursday I am going to email you very specific prayer requests about the message and service. I want you to remain a very real partner in ministry to me as your pastor and the church as your family. Leslie, one more thing, please remember this on the days that your pain levels are up, that the day is coming when the Lord Jesus Himself will wipe away your tears and there will be no more pain.” Leslie would need that reminder. Some days would be more painful than others. She never forgot what her pastor told her. She also became a great prayer partner. Special things happened at the church. The pastor knew he had a great prayer partner indeed.

For today: Do you deal with pain? Don’t view it as an enemy. And always remember that it isn’t going to stay forever.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Stan enjoyed listening to the guide as he explained the history of the old lighthouse on the bay. There was an especially gripping story of the night that the winds were howling and the storm was raging. The men on the fishing boat didn’t make it back to shore while it was still safe. Soon their fishing vessel was battered by the quickly developing storm. Fearing for their lives, the sailors cried out to the Lord for help. Suddenly the light from the old lighthouse was spotted, and the men made it safely to shore. The guide concluded by saying, “This is very dear to my heart because my grandfather was one of the sailors. If it had not been for the Lord using this old lighthouse, I would not be here today.” How about you? Aren’t you glad that God’s Word gives light and direction for our lives?

For today: I gladly want to invest time reading God’s Word. It’s like the old lighthouse that gives safety and direction for our lives.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:3-6).

It was a bittersweet day on that hot and humid morning when the missionary couple left the field because of health problems. For nearly fifteen years the couple had worked in the very remote section of their field. Major breakthroughs had occurred, and wonderful victories had been won as family after family came to know Christ as their personal Savior. Now the couple was going to be leaving, and they were saying good-bye. The missionary man held the hand of his wife and read to the tribal people the truth from Philippians 1:3-6 and applied it to them. Many years later one of the men wrote to the missionary couple and said, “It was very difficult for us the day that you left the field. However, I want you to know that it was our joy to fellowship in the gospel with you from the first day until now. I want to assure you that the work is continuing and that we have never forgotten your words. Thank you for your ministry in our lives. We look forward to that day when we will meet you in the air, and it will be a glad reunion day indeed!” What a wonderful testimony that we also need to have as well as we too must walk with the Lord.

For today: How about you? Are you walking with the Lord in such a way that He is able to perform His wonders through you?