Friday, February 22, 2008

Well, I Almost Blew It

Okay, I've had two devotional goals this month: Read through the Gospels and blog everyday. Well, today I finished John, but I almost didn't blog. And just so you know, it still counts as today, even though it's already tomorrow, because I haven't gone to bed yet!

Anyway, I heard someone recently say that if Christians were really serious about being disciples of Jesus Christ, they would read the gospels through at least once a month. Thus, my goal. Technically, I read Matthew at the end of last month. And to be totally honest, I listened to half of Luke and all of John on CD. But in a four week period, I consumed the four evangelists with the fervor of a fat kid eating cake. Tomorrow I will start again with Matthew and see where it leads me.

I can't say that I found anything new. I had no fresh insights about the greatest story ever told. I had no majorly profound revelation that will revolutionize Christianity. But I will say this. I got to know my Jesus in a more personal way than I had before. Something about taking in all those stories at once made a difference in the way I felt about him. Having to experience the crucifixion four times in as many weeks was excruciating, but shouting four times when the stone was rolled away was pretty exciting! I have to tell you, I developed a hatred for Judas Iscariot that I've never known before, and I really wanted to shake Peter's marbles loose by John 21.

Last night after church, I was listening to the last few chapters of John. And when that great moment of revelation came, Jesus appearing to the frightened disciples in that upper room, I was overcome with emotion. All I could do was hunch over the steering wheel and weep with the glory of His presence as they realized together the Lord was alive! I longed to call out to the disciples, "Don't you get it yet!" But they were only living it for the first time.

What's my excuse?

1 comment:

William said...

"Anyway, I heard someone recently say that if Christians were really serious about being disciples of Jesus Christ, they would read the gospels through at least once a month."

I like that practice and may consider applying it to my own life. I don't think I could do the blogging part though. I created my devotional blog so that I would write every day but I found it robbing me of the very time that I was setting aside to pray and read the scriptures. I do hope that when school is said and done with that I can give myself to a more disciplined blogging schedule.

You need to let me know when you get back so we can get together.

Blessings to you sir, I will be praying for you over these few weeks.