Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 228

August 15;   Matthew 17:1;   17/260(II);   ‘Being With Jesus – Your Choice’

 Matthew 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;

I heard someone say once, that it was not fair for the Lord Jesus to play favorites.  They continued, that Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him wherever He went.  It is absolutely true that as you read the gospels, it becomes clear that Peter, James and John were with the Lord a great deal and were often mentioned by name.  The person who said that Jesus played favorites was absolutely wrong.  The Bible very clearly teaches that the Lord has no favorites.  Why then were Peter, James and John always with Jesus?  The answer is simple, they wanted to be with Him.  How profound and life changing that is.  How much time we spend with Jesus is not up to Him, it is completely up to us.  No one can make you spend time with Jesus by reading your Bible.  No one can make you spend time with Jesus in prayer.  No one can make you spend time with Jesus by going to church.  You alone choose your priorities.  You must honestly evaluate how important close fellowship with Jesus means to you.  Quality time with Jesus completely changed James and John.  They were angry men, called ‘sons of thunder.’  John became the apostle of love.  James prayed so much that it is said he had calloused knees like a camel.  Peter was a coward and despite his denial of Jesus, he was forgiven and after being filled with the Holy Spirit, became a 'powerhouse' for the Lord.  One word of caution.  Often, Christians with less of a desire to fellowship with the Lord will try to tell you spending time with Jesus is not that important.  Your zeal convicts them and they do not like that.  Listen to the Word, not them.