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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We are in Luke Chapter 22, and this week from verse 31. Jesus Christ is spending His last night on earth with His chosen men. That is significant.
Final words are always highly significant. They have been remembering the Passover, and Jesus has given new meaning and significance to the bread and the wine.
Then there arises that dispute. They squabble as they become so interested in what their place and position might be in the coming Kingdom, and Jesus has to tell them not to be like the world. Verse 26. Don't be like everybody else. Be different. That has its cost too. Being different is not easy, and being known for being different has its own difficulties, but this is part of our calling in Christ, and this is something we must face up to and confront.
Those who are not ‘in Christ’ may hate and detest us because of this, and others may wish they had the faith and assurance and peace which only Jesus Christ can give.
Jesus is teaching those men that they are to serve. Now, that is a word that has almost gone out of use. Serve, service and serving others - you do not see a lot of this in today’s world, and perhaps that is why Jesus had to take the time to teach its importance. Serving has never been popular!
Then Jesus indicates that these disciples are going to be sifted – put through a sieve - put through the mill - to be refined. That will remove the lumps, and knock off the rough edges.
The shewbread in the Tabernacle had to be made with refined flour.
Jesus looks at Simon Peter and spells it out clearly. "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." Jesus is very specific.
Peter was going to have a wild 24 hours, and be in turmoil over these next three days, but Jesus had prayed for him that his faith would not fail.
Peter is to be sifted and tested and put in the most awkward situations, and have it all written down for all to see. The wheat was being separated from the chaff, in the life of the man who was to arise and lead that young Church during the first few years of its dynamic exciting life.
In a sense it is not what you are that counts. It is what God can make of you. It is what God can do with you and in you, before He can work through you.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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