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Making God Behave

  • Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, 'Lord, do you wash my feet?' Jesus answered him, 'You don't know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.' Peter said to him, 'You will never wash my feet!' John 13:5 WEB

    It had been over three years since Jesus had called them His disciples. The twelve of them had traveled together, ministered together, ate together, and saw miracle after miracle while following Jesus. The night that Jesus was betrayed, He poured water, took a towel and washed the feet of His disciples. When it became Peter's turn, Peter said 'You shall never wash my feet!'

    Peter tended to correct Jesus when He broke out of the mold that he had envisioned. In Matthew 16:22, Peter rebuked Jesus for saying that He would be crucified. In Mark 14:29 they disagreed and Peter said: 'If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!' but then he denied Him. In John 4:27 the disciples marveled when Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman. In Luke 8:25 they marveled saying: 'Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!'

    See Peter meant well, but sometimes it was his flesh speaking, and not the Holy Spirit. The disciples knew Jesus very well, but they were always surprised by His actions because Jesus did not always act as they thought He should. Making God behave was a constant problem for the religious pharisees and scribes as well. They seemed to have irreconcilable differences.

    Paul wrote this in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21: 'Don't quench the Spirit. Don't despise prophecies. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.' I have attended churches that lived the exact opposite of that verse. We are made in the likeness of God, in His image. Yet sometimes we want Him to be behave like He was made in ours. We try to put limits on what He can do and want to place God the Almighty inside of a box and make Him behave like we want.

    Leave room for God to be God. No one walked on water until someone did (Matthew 14:29). Donkeys didn't talk to people, until one did (Numbers 22:28). To think that 'My Lord would never do that!' is believing that God was made in your image, instead of you being made in His. To believe that God has to be like you is the ultimate form of pride. God is full of surprises, and the Bible is full of Him surprising people just like us.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father please keep me aware of Your Awesomeness. You are the Almighty, incredibly awesome God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Maker of mankind. Let me never forget this, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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22 comments
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Amen Lord and. 

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt

Amen! God does not think on our human level. He has so much for us in this life. What a big God I serve, I pray that I don't put Him in a box, I want to believe Him!!!

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Stacie Chambers-Franklin
Stacie Chambers-Franklin

Love it!!!!!!! I have been guilty of this very thing, but have been learning more and more to let God be God. And He is truly amazing! It is an adventure to serve God! The surprises [on this walk with Him] are out of this world!  :-)

March 19, 2017
  • 2
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen, we cannot fathom the abilities of our Almighty Father! Why? Because all things are possible with Him. He can do anything He wills to do, no matter how impossible it seems to His sheep. That is why answered prayers can come in much different ways than what we imagined.

March 19, 2017
  • 3
Dion Todd
Dion Todd

You know, I got an "F" in seminary for writing a book report on "What would Jesus do?" I have always seen God as faithful, but highly unpredictable. He is always surprising us and doing things that I do not expect. Like it never crossed my mind that we would have an online church. To me, being able to predict what Jesus would do is only bringing Him down to our level. Personally, I like the surprises....

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen, I find the surprises are awesome and much more than I asked for. God bless you, looking forward to your message today at the online service!

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu

Amen 

March 19, 2017
  • 2
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen to this one, for some reason the church seems to always want to put God in some kind of box. God road around in a box one time called the Ark of the Covenate, I can onli imagine how confinning that must have been! I do not believe He will ever get back in a box. Great message!

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Albert Chau
Albert Chau

Thank you for this message. All of my problems are trivial in God's hands. No need to worry or fear. Great is our God.

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Loriann Riley
Loriann Riley

Amen 

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!! Alleluia!! Amen!! Thank you God for the love you show me each and everyday!!

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Diane Symborski✝
Diane Symborski✝

Amen!               Thank you Pastor for you devotion today. :-)

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father please keep me aware of Your Awesomeness. You are the Almighty, incredibly awesome God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Maker of mankind. Let me never forget this, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen! <3

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Christina Ocasio
Christina Ocasio

Amen♡

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father please keep me aware of your awesomeness. You are you are the almighty, incredibly awesome God, the creator of Heaven and Earth, and the maker of mankind. Let me never forget this, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Janet Marsh-Lord
Janet Marsh-Lord

Thank you Pastor Dion...Nothing is impossible with our awesome and fantastic God. He is amazing and full of surprises. Let me never forget this.. Amen..

March 19, 2017
  • 1
Ida Ruth Rodriguez
Ida Ruth Rodriguezedited: March 20, 2017

Amen!!!

March 20, 2017
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Praise God!  Good morning!  God, help me to recognize you, even in places and ways I never though to see You.  Help me to always be on Your side of the matter.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

March 20, 2017
  • 1
Elena Vasquez
Elena Vasquez

Amen

March 20, 2017
  • 1
Linda Goodlow
Linda Goodlow

Amen!!!

March 20, 2017
  • 1
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler

 I love this!!!  May I always remember this, Lord! You can do anything.  I so need You more and more.

March 21, 2017
  • 1
Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh

Amen. I stand I stand in Awe of You Heavenly Father..For who you are,and with a Grateful heart for all you have done and are doing us.For all you have created belongs  to you.Help us never to forget who you are and your never ending love for us.In The Name of Christ Jesus I pray.

March 22, 2017