Day 3

Be Still:  Dear Father, help us never forget Your Son’s sacrifice, that although He was God, He humbled Himself for our sakes.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened:  Matthew 17:1-13

¹After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."  ⁵While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"  ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." ⁸When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."  ¹⁰The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

¹¹Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹²But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." ¹³Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Be Stretched:  Try to imagine what it must have been like for Peter, James and John to see Jesus transfigured before them!  Is it any wonder Peter wanted to stay?  As you go through your day, keep the image of the transfigured Jesus in your heart.  Thank Him for not staying on the mountain, but instead coming down to suffer for our sakes.  Pray that you would more and more listen to our Savior, God’s Son, in whom He is well pleased.