Down the Mountain

Down the mountain.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (NIV)

Peter did not want to leave the mountain when Jesus transfigured Himself as Moses and Elijah appeared in their glorified bodies. It was euphoric and, at that moment, he was ready to stay and never return. But Jesus touched them and led them back down the mountain. Though divine, mountaintop experiences are not where spiritual growth happens. God uses these experiences to increase our strength, hope, and encouragement to keep trudging through this life step by step in the light of His glory. Purification doesn’t happen on the glorious mountaintop. Jesus must lead us back to the ordinary.

The intoxicating spiritual moments with God do not move us deeper into the light of God. It’s the walk. Following Christ step by step through the muck and mire of life releases power to cleanse us from all that hinders the life God desires for us. The ordinary moments throughout our day when we are faced with dilemmas, temptations, fatigue, and struggle allow opportunities for decisions that require greater faith. As we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.

Very few of us are experiencing the fullness of life God desires for us. We easily focus on Christ in the ecstatic moments of worship and praise, but it is in the small moments of getting ready in the morning, traffic, and interactions with strangers, co-workers, and family as we perform the mundane that we lose sight of Him. Yet, these are the moments we are wrestling with fear, acceptance, esteem, love, forgiveness, and hatred. It is in the walk where we must continue in the light.

Purification comes as we focus on Christ’s desire for our heart, mind, and body in the common challenges. Mountaintop experiences transport us to a rapturous place escaping the weight of daily life. We need this reprieve, but only for spiritual rehydration in preparation for our faithful return to the daily grind.

We must shift our thinking from the worship experience as an escape from routine struggles to the necessary preparation to stay focused on Him in the boring repetition of tasks and the struggles that accompany them. It is along the ordinary walk that we are enlightened in His presence.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on you in the ordinary and tedious struggles of life that I might be purified by Your blood. Amen.