Day 13 - Advance Toward Holiness

Luke 5:8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

RC Sproul, in his book The Holiness of God, wrote, “When we meet the Absolute, we know immediately that we are not absolute. When we meet the Infinite, we become acutely conscious that we are finite. When we meet the Eternal, we know we are temporal. To meet God is a study in contrasts.” I would agree with that statement, especially the last sentence, “To meet God is a study in contrasts.” Simon Peter saw a miracle, and chose to accept Jesus as Lord. The Pharisees saw miracles happen, and complained it was done on a Sabbath. Peter heard Jesus teaching, and left everything, including his job, so he could learn more. The rich young ruler heard Jesus’ teachings, and went away sad because he may have to give up some things. Peter met Jesus, and fell at His feet in submission. Caiaphas met Jesus, and condemned Him. I pray that you experienced at least a glimpse of Jesus at Men’s Retreat. I hope you had a life altering encounter with the Holiness of God, and you acknowledge Him as Lord. Such encounters move us to submit to Him and ask Him to do even more with our life. Maybe by the time this devotional has hit your messaging app, that spark from your most recent encounter with God has already began to fade. I ask you to remember it, cling to it, and seek God all the more. Don’t let what happened at Men’s Retreat be a “nice time in Bismarck,” but pray that God build upon what He began there. Seek Him all the more, and advance in your relationship with Him.

Action Point: Take ten minutes, just ten minutes, today and ask God to rekindle a fire within you. Seek Him out, pray for a fresh vision for your life, for a fresh fire inside you that nothing the world has to offer may extinguish. Fall on your knees and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, ask Him to lead you away from anything that may entangle you, or keep you from following Him.

Prayer Suggestion: Jesus, as you met Simon Peter at his work, so I ask you to meet me today. Show me Your power, show me Your holiness, and take me away from anything that may hinder me from being a fisher of men. Use me to draw others close to you, Lord, and may I live to bless You! Amen.

- Jeff Williams, NDMen Team