Loving Jesus As He Is

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 23rd Sermon, Day 3

There's a profound difference between loving Jesus and loving our idea of Jesus. Peter fell into this trap, and if we're honest, so do we. We can be passionate about our faith, active in church, and still find ourselves loving a version of Jesus that we've created rather than the Jesus who actually is. We want the Jesus who blesses our plans but not the one who might disrupt them. We want the Jesus who opens doors but not the one who sometimes closes them for our good. We want the Savior but not the sacrifice that comes with following Him.

Peter loved the idea of a Messiah who would make his life easier, more comfortable, more successful by worldly standards. But Jesus came to make our lives meaningful, not necessarily easier. He came to transform us, not just to give us what we want. The question that pierces through all our religious activity is this: Do we love Jesus as He actually is, or do we love our customized version of Him?

The real Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily. He calls us to love our enemies, to serve others, to find our life by losing it. This isn't always comfortable, but it's always good. When we learn to love Jesus as He truly is - in all His challenging, transforming, sometimes uncomfortable glory - we discover a relationship that's far richer than anything our imagination could create.

Bible Verse

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?'" - Matthew 16:13

Reflection Question

How might your personal preferences or desires be shaping your understanding of who Jesus is rather than letting Scripture define Him?

Quote Peter loved his idea of Jesus more than he loved Jesus himself. Peter loved the Messiah he expected, not the Messiah Jesus actually was.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to love You as You truly are, not as I want You to be. Help me to embrace all of who You are - Your love and Your lordship, Your grace and Your truth. Transform my heart to desire what You desire. Amen.

The Danger of Leading Instead of Following

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 23rd Sermon, Day 2

Picture this: Peter, the impulsive fisherman, pulling Jesus aside to correct the Son of God. It sounds almost comical, doesn't it? Yet how often do we do the same thing, just more politely? We pray, but then we tell God how He should answer. We ask for guidance, but we've already decided what advice we're willing to take.

Peter's mistake wasn't that he cared about Jesus - it was that he tried to take the driver's seat. He moved from follower to leader in a matter of moments, and Jesus had to firmly redirect him. This happens to us more than we'd like to admit. We start following Jesus, but somewhere along the way, we subtly begin trying to lead Him. We want Him to bless our plans rather than surrendering to His plans. We want Him to open the doors we think should be opened, rather than trusting Him to open the right doors at the right time.

The moment we step out of our position as followers and try to become the leader, we lose sight of God's calling on our lives. Following requires humility, trust, and the willingness to go where we might not have chosen to go. But here's the encouraging truth: when we get back in our proper place as followers, God's calling becomes clearer. Sometimes the best thing we can do is step down from the driver's seat and let Jesus lead again.

Bible Verse

"Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'" - Matthew 16:23

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life have you been trying to lead Jesus instead of following Him?

Quote We'll always miss God's calling on our lives when we try to lead instead of follow.

Prayer

Jesus, forgive me for the times I've tried to take control instead of trusting Your leadership. Help me to follow You with humility and faith, even when Your path doesn't make sense to me. I choose to get behind You and let You lead. Amen.

When Our Expectations Meet God’s Reality

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 23rd Sermon, Day 1

Have you ever been so sure about what God was going to do, only to have Him do something completely different? Peter experienced this whiplash moment when Jesus revealed His true mission. One minute Peter was declaring Jesus as the Messiah with divine revelation, and the next he was rebuking the very Son of God he had just confessed. Peter had painted a picture in his mind of what the Messiah would look like - a conquering king who would overthrow Rome and establish an earthly kingdom. But Jesus painted a different picture entirely: one that included suffering, rejection, and death.

Sometimes our expectations of how God should work can become barriers to seeing how He actually wants to work. We create mental images of what our calling should look like, what our breakthrough should resemble, or how our prayers should be answered. But God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.

The beautiful truth is that God's plans are always better than our expectations, even when they don't match what we had in mind. Peter couldn't see it then, but Jesus' way of suffering love would accomplish infinitely more than any political revolution ever could. When our expectations collide with God's reality, we have a choice: we can resist like Peter did, or we can trust that God sees what we cannot see.

Bible Verse

"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." - Matthew 16:21

Reflection Question

What expectations about God's plan for your life might be preventing you from seeing what He's actually trying to do?

Quote Peter had expected for Jesus to be a leader, but not that kind of leader. He expected Jesus to be a savior, but not that kind of savior. And Peter expected victory, but not victory that came through death and a cross.

Prayer

Lord, help me hold my expectations loosely and trust Your ways even when they don't match my plans. Give me the wisdom to see that Your thoughts are higher than mine, and the faith to believe that Your way is always best. Amen.

The Daily Choice to Follow

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 16th Sermon, Day 5

Following Jesus isn't a one-time decision - it's a daily choice. Every morning we wake up, we have the opportunity to either cling to what holds us back or surrender it to Him. The rich young ruler made his choice and walked away sad, but tomorrow brings new opportunities for all of us.

Perhaps you've been like that young man, wanting Jesus but also wanting to maintain control of your life. You want His blessings but not His lordship. You want His comfort but not His challenges. The good news is that it's never too late to make a different choice.

Following Jesus always requires sacrifice, but here's what the young ruler couldn't see: what Jesus asks us to give up is always less valuable than what He offers in return. He may ask us to surrender our pride, but He gives us His peace. He may ask us to let go of control, but He gives us His guidance. He may ask us to sacrifice our comfort, but He gives us His purpose.

The young ruler was torn between two treasures and chose the lesser one. But you don't have to. Today, you can choose to trust that Jesus knows what's best for you. You can choose to believe that His plans for your life are better than your own. Remember, Jesus isn't trying to make your life miserable - He's trying to make it meaningful. He's not trying to take away your joy - He's trying to give you joy that lasts. The question isn't whether Jesus is calling you. The question is whether you'll answer Him.

Bible Verse

'Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."' - Luke 9:23

Reflection Question

What specific area of your life is Jesus asking you to surrender today, and what step of faith can you take right now to follow Him more closely?

Quote Following Jesus is a daily decision. It's a daily choice because it's a daily offer that we can accept or reject.

Prayer

Lord, I choose to follow You today. Help me surrender whatever I'm clinging to that keeps me from wholehearted commitment to You. Give me faith to trust that Your plans for my life are better than my own. I want to choose the greater treasure - a life lived for You. Amen.

The Invitation of a Lifetime

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

November 16th Sermon, Day 4

Imagine receiving a personal invitation from Jesus to walk with Him, learn from Him, and serve alongside Him. This is exactly what the rich young ruler received - an opportunity that only a handful of people in history have been offered. Yet he walked away from it. What makes this story even more remarkable is that Jesus saw something special in this young man. Despite his struggle with wealth, Jesus loved him and wanted him as a disciple. This wasn't a rejection; it was an invitation to something extraordinary.

Here's the beautiful truth: Jesus extends a similar invitation to each of us today. While we may not physically walk the dusty roads of Palestine with Him, we can still experience the joy of discipleship. We can learn from His teachings, follow His example, and participate in His mission to bring hope and healing to the world. Every day, Jesus calls us to follow Him. Sometimes it's in small ways - choosing kindness over selfishness, forgiveness over bitterness, generosity over greed.

Other times, it's in bigger ways - changing careers to serve others, moving to a new place for ministry, or taking a stand for justice. The tragedy of the rich young ruler isn't just that he missed his chance - it's that he missed the greatest opportunity of his lifetime. But you don't have to make the same choice. Jesus is still calling, still inviting, still offering you the chance to be part of something bigger than yourself. What invitation might Jesus be extending to you today?

Bible Verse

'When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.' - Matthew 19:22

Reflection Question

If Jesus personally invited you to follow Him in a specific way today, what do you think He might be asking of you, and what's holding you back from saying yes?

Quote Jesus offered that young man something. He offered very few individuals comparatively: a personal invitation to become his disciple, to walk with him, to learn from him, to serve alongside of him.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for the incredible privilege of being invited to follow You. Help me recognize the ways You're calling me each day and give me the courage to say yes, even when it requires sacrifice. I want to be part of Your mission in this world. Amen.