November 3
Scripture of the day: "Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified." Mark 9:2-6
Thought of the day: The Transfiguration was a spectacular event witnessed by Peter, James, and John. They saw Jesus transfigured and His garments become radiant. They saw Moses and Elijah appear and talk to Jesus. They heard the Father say from an overshadowing cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" They were terrified. And Peter, not knowing what to say, said, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
Challenge of the day: It must have been exciting for the three disciples to see those events. I wonder how they knew that the two men who appeared were Moses and Elijah. Did they introduce themselves? Did Jesus call them by name? There are some interesting lessons for us in Peter's immediate reaction to the Transfiguration. One lesson is that it is a good idea to keep your mouth closed if you don't know what to say. Silence in the presence of God can be fine. Another lesson is that it is not always a good idea to build a structure. Worshipping on a mountaintop in God's cathedral can be much more meaningful than worshipping in one made by human hands.
THIS DAILY BYTE OF THE WORD, COPYRIGHT 2014, WAS PRINTED LEGALLY FROM WWW.EBREAD.ORG. YOU MAY COPY IT, UNCHANGED, BUT ONLY WITH THIS SOURCE AND COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ATTACHED ... AND ONLY FOR FREE OR AT-COST DISTRIBUTION. BIBLE QUOTATIONS ARE FROM THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.