Read Esther 4:12-17
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (v. 16).
During Emperor Nero’s first persecution, the believers begged Peter not to be seen in Rome. His life was considered necessary to the well-being of the church. Finally persuaded, he fled along the Appian Way only to be met by a vision of Christ traveling toward the city. The amazed Peter exclaimed, “Lord, whither goest thou?”
With mild sadness, the Savior replied, “I go to Rome to be crucified a second time,” then vanished. Peter immediately turned back and reentered the city. Some time later, he himself was crucified. (Ray Crooks)
I counted dollars while God counted crosses,
I counted gains while He counted losses,
I counted by worth, by the things gained in store
But He sized me up by the scars that I bore.
I coveted honors and sought for degrees,
He wept as He counted the hours on my knees;
I never knew until one day by the grave
How vain are the things that we spend life to save;
I did not yet know until my loved one went above
That richest is he who is rich in God’s love.
– Unknown
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliott).
This week’s featured devotional is the Thursday, September 4, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
Photo credit: "Wooden Cross at Souliers" by Andrew Bowden used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized, cropped.