This is the devotion I shared with our group right before we boarded our overseas flight. Please join with us in prayer that we all may be surprised by God.
Devotion for Monday the 9th
Be Surprised by God
Paul McDonald
Abraham was surprised by God. As he lifted up his knife in obedience to sacrifice his only beloved son, God threw him a curve ball, God Himself provided the sacrifice.
John the Baptist was surprised by God. When his cousin Jesus showed up John was eager to be baptized by Him. God threw him a curve ball. Jesus naturally needed to be baptized by John instead to fulfill all that was written.
The Prodigal Son was surprised by God. He came crawling back to a father he betrayed with no expectations except perhaps to be treated as one of the lowest servants. God threw him a curve ball. The son who was lost has been found, restored, redeemed.
The woman caught in adultery was surprised by God. She was brought before the authorities in a public place knowing what the crowd knew, she would be killed by stoning. God threw her a curve ball. Let the person who has never made a mistake pick up the first stone.
God never changes, never has, never will. So those of us who are in Christ shouldn't be surprised by God...But we are and we are because we have a flawed view of the world. We allow our own preconceived notions to write a fictitious end to a story when God is the author.
I am sharing these familiar stories as a reminder to all of us. As we take our first steps on our pilgrimage lets do our very best to set aside our preconceived notions. Resist the urge to write even a single sentence in this story, instead prepare your heart to be surprised by God. Just show up with an open heart and mind and allow God to transform you in surprising ways....
Lets pray:
Gracious Father. I lift up these precious pilgrims to your care. LORD we ask that you would bring transformation into our lives in the days to come. Open our hearts and our minds for a surprise. Allow us to encounter you in a unique ways in the land where the Word was made Flesh. Show us how to be your disciples as we walk in the footsteps of your Son.
Be Surprised by God
Paul McDonald
Abraham was surprised by God. As he lifted up his knife in obedience to sacrifice his only beloved son, God threw him a curve ball, God Himself provided the sacrifice.
John the Baptist was surprised by God. When his cousin Jesus showed up John was eager to be baptized by Him. God threw him a curve ball. Jesus naturally needed to be baptized by John instead to fulfill all that was written.
The Prodigal Son was surprised by God. He came crawling back to a father he betrayed with no expectations except perhaps to be treated as one of the lowest servants. God threw him a curve ball. The son who was lost has been found, restored, redeemed.
The woman caught in adultery was surprised by God. She was brought before the authorities in a public place knowing what the crowd knew, she would be killed by stoning. God threw her a curve ball. Let the person who has never made a mistake pick up the first stone.
God never changes, never has, never will. So those of us who are in Christ shouldn't be surprised by God...But we are and we are because we have a flawed view of the world. We allow our own preconceived notions to write a fictitious end to a story when God is the author.
I am sharing these familiar stories as a reminder to all of us. As we take our first steps on our pilgrimage lets do our very best to set aside our preconceived notions. Resist the urge to write even a single sentence in this story, instead prepare your heart to be surprised by God. Just show up with an open heart and mind and allow God to transform you in surprising ways....
Lets pray:
Gracious Father. I lift up these precious pilgrims to your care. LORD we ask that you would bring transformation into our lives in the days to come. Open our hearts and our minds for a surprise. Allow us to encounter you in a unique ways in the land where the Word was made Flesh. Show us how to be your disciples as we walk in the footsteps of your Son.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone
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