Parenthetical line of thought: Did anyone else grow up in a more “southern” traditional environment where all the adults–or at least the leaders– were Brother or Sister So-and-So? My husband got a big kick out of calling the church in P.B. once to ask for Ron, only to be corrected by the secretary, “Oh, you mean Brother Ron?” I love it.
Anyway…some quotes from Sister Beth Moore that have challenged me lately and/or gripped me. From Beloved Disciple:
“…Above young John hung his world, his hero, his attachment, his future, his leader, the love of his life…He hadn’t asked for Jesus. Jesus asked for him….If anyone had an excuse to run from the cross, perhaps it was John. But he didn’t.
…John remained nearby Jesus whether his leader was on the mount of transfiguration or in the depths of Gethsemane’s suffering.
…Anyone with eyes willing to truly behold Jesus will at times be confused and shocked by what she sees. You see, if we’re willing to be taken to the extreme of His glory where we gain intimate knowledge, we will undoubtedly see Him in situations that we cannot explain and that sometimes disturb. Then comes the question: Will we walk away from Jesus when our human understanding see Him look weak and defeated? Do you know what I mean by that question?
…Will we cling when our human reasoning implies that evil has defeated Him? Or that evil seems to be found in Him? Will we stand by faith when human logic says to run?
That’s what will make us different.”
Then in reference to John 21:15-23 when Christ repeatedly asks Peter if he loves Him and says, “Follow me.”
“Three years earlier Peter had heard the same words, and to his credit, he had done it. But he had done it in his own strength and with his own agenda, his own ambition…Love…was the obvious motivation Christ wanted for Peter to follow Him…No other motivation will last!…if we’re going to follow Jesus Christ in the power of the crucified life, our compellings will be the same. Only love compels to the death. Life is hard. Opposition is huge. Circumstances will happen in all our lives that will defy all discipline, determination, and conviction. Love keeps burning when everything else disintegrates in an ashen heap. Pray for this one thing more than you pray for your next breath.”
Finally:
“My heart overflows with inexpressible gratitude to God for the treasure of His Word. He has single-handedly used His Word to heal, free, thrill, and lead me. … The Word is the only truly divine substance that is touchable and tangible in this earthly realm. I do not worship a book. I worship the One who breathed life onto the page in human vocabulary so that mortal creatures could hear the very voice of God. I could weep at the thought.”
Glory.
