[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Friday May 26, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotion Friday May 26, 2006
This week’s devotions are written by Pastor Ludwig who apologizes for missing yesterday but there was no internet connection at the hotel on the Mount Olives where he stayed yesterday. Today he continues the theme of “God’s Rascals” from the Lutheran Center in Bethlehem (which of course is “connected”!)

Matthew 16:21-23 
>From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to  Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and  scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord!  This shall never happen to you."  But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a  hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."  

Thought
Sometimes we have the best of intentions but the problem is that often the intention is about what we want and does not consider the need or desire for whom we have this intention. A college roommate of mine worried constantly that I was not dating and that I spent far too much time doing academic work. He was convinced that I was lonely  and in need of companionship. Against my protests, he set up a blind date for me that will likely go down in the annals of dating as a magnificent disaster. Peter loved Jesus but he wanted to shove on Jesus his definition of Messianic success. In spite of Peter’s self-centeredness, Jesus loved him and shaped him to accomplish great acts of selflessness.  Is it possible that Jesus can do that with us? Absolutely.

PS
Next week our devotions will flow from my travel in the Holy Land and my conversations with Palestinian Lutherans. They are enduring much hardship as they live in the shadow of the Israeli Wall and yet they continue to trust in God and pray for advocates who will speak on their behalf in the name of Christ.