Their lives were set.
They had worked at their jobs all their lives.
They thought they knew which way life would turn for the rest of their days.
There was a hope for Messiah, in their minds a political savior, to free them from the Romans. But mostly there was routine, the everydayness of work and home.
Then they met Him. Perhaps He was the one. the one who would save them from the oppression of Rome. That was their plan.
They were fishermen and a tax collector, the tax collector recruited to stop working for Rome, to find a higher cause. Surely overcoming the earthly oppression of Rome was the plan.
The disciples listened. They followed. They believed.
They still thought political freedom was the plan.
Then one betrayed Him. Another denied Him. One stayed close to the end. The rest scattered. They watched their plan end.
They watched their plan die.
The fishermen returned to their boats, back to the routine, back to the everydayness of every day.
Life would be as it had been, as if He’d never lived.
Then He arose. Rome stayed, but His followers changed.
They received fire from heaven.
They were never the same.
That was His plan.
They turned the world upside down.
His plan.
His rising, a lie?
You may say so, but who dies for a lie?
Only one disciple would not be killed for believing Him who said, “Follow Me.”
That one would suffer exile and write his encounters with Him whom he’d followed at the cost of all else–all else but eternal gain.
All else but God’s plan.
This plan remains today.
To show us how to follow Him.
To make us never the same.
His way through His plan.
“Rome stayed, but His followers changed.” What a great statement to live by today. We’re in the world, but not of the world.
Thank you. May God shine His light through us to the Rome of today. God bless!
Amen. God’s plan working in every moment.
Indeed. Thanks, Melissa. God bless!
I love this! Simple. Convicting. Captiving. The truth in simple words. It continues on today. We are followers of Jesus more than two thousand years later. God’s Word can be trusted.
God’s Word most certainly can be trusted. Thanks, Melinda. God bless!
Your message is a beautifully written reminder that we believers are much like those early disciples–sometimes afraid, sometimes doubtful, sometimes timid about sharing the love of Christ with others. But as you point out, we are forever changed by His love and sacrifice and we follow Him, love Him and others, and share the Good News with everyone we can. Thank you for this inspiring message, Nancy.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Katherine. God bless!
Ah YES, amen!! I love the line, “They received fire from heaven.” It changed everything!
It did! Thanks, Jessica. God bless!
May we never go back to “everydayness.” We’ve been redeemed for so much more. Thank you, Nancy!
Thank you, Annie. God bless!
It is an amazing story of how Jesus turned their world upside down. When we truly believe and seek Him, Jesus will do the same to our lives. He plans are always the best. Thanks Nancy for this great messsge.
Amazing, indeed! Thanks, Yvonne. God bless!
Such a humbling post Ms. Nancy. Tears flowed. Thank you!
Thank you, JD. I appreciate your comments. God bless!
Nancy, this is wonderful. I love how simple, yet complex it is. Thank you!
Thank you, Karen. God bless!