Day 24: Matthew 17

If you've been a Christian for very long, you have undoubtedly heard someone use the phrase "mountaintop experience." The phrase usually refers to a season of life or a specific experience when you felt especially close and connected with God. The prayer that accompanies such an experience is usually for it not to end. But often, as soon as it came, it's gone and not much changed for the long-term.

The disciples had a similar such experience in Matthew 17. Peter, James, and John experienced something no one else had at that time or has experienced since. They had the ultimate mountaintop experience! It was so good, Peter wanted to make arrangements for them to stay a while.

Yet not long after leaving the mountain and the amazing experience, they could not do a simple thing Jesus had given them authority to do. In His rebuke, Jesus called them a "faithless and twisted generation" because of their lack of faith.

The same guys that didn't want to leave the mountain struggled to follow Jesus on the ground. Isn't the same true of you and me?

We never want our favorite worship song to end. We remember that retreat or camp or worship service that we never wanted to end. We want to feel close to God.

We've all had those "mountaintop experiences"...but what if the ultimate mountaintop experience doesn't even happen on "the mountain?" What if it happens on "the ground?" What if it happens without the glamour and the lights and the angelic choirs? What if it happens in simple acts of faith and obedience?

Read about the mountaintop experience of Peter, James, and John and the subsequent events in Matthew 17 and journal your thoughts.

Are you looking for mountaintops or opportunities for obedience and exercising your faith?