Thursday 3-27-08 "Acting Out"

Greetings Internet Campus,

I tend to be a little on the analytical side. I'm a perfectionist that needs to know every single detail before I act on something. Have you ever read a product manual for something that you have bought? I have. In fact I like to look around the bookstore for manuals that are thicker and more informative than the manual that came with my product so that I can milk every single feature out of my purchase.

I've even tried to read the instructions in a different language to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

Are you a "facts/information" person?

Luke 24:11-12a (NLT2): “But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.”

Today's scripture talks about a man who was exactly the opposite of all that we've talked about so far. He didn't need every detail. He wasn't afraid to go out on his own and risk embarrassment or failure. He wasn't analytical to the point of paralysis. His name is Peter. I could stand to be more like him.

In this passage...nobody believed that Jesus could have possible risen from the dead. They all chose to weep. They all said that they needed more information. All of them thought that resurrection was nonsense. Death had a pretty good track record in being a permanent condition. They had to see the all the facts in front of them. Not Peter.

"However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look."

I LOVE that about Peter. He didn't need to analyze anything. He didn't need to pick apart the evidence...he just moved. He RAN to the tomb to look. It didn't matter to him what others thought of him...he was going to get there. What many considered nonsense...Peter saw as an opportunity to get closer to his Savior.

How about you this morning? What is it in your life that you are praying for? Are you running to God expectantly? Or are you waiting around gathering details...focusing on having all of the facts first? Lace up and sprint to your Creator this morning. Run to Him with faith like a child. Don't get what "has always been the case" get in the way of what God can and will do in your life.

Write it Down: Which do you relate to more? Fact gatherer or Peter? Which does God want you to be more like in your faith? Write down 2 things that you can do to be more like Peter.

See you tomorrow as we wrap up a GREAT week here on the blog!

Pastor Brian