Spring Forward

“Spring Forward!” That seems to be the only way that I can remember how to adjust my alarm clock on that Saturday night when it comes time to make the annual adjustment to Daylight Saving Time. I must admit that it is not my most favorite of the time adjustments we are called to make. I much prefer to “fall back.” It seems so much easier to gain an hour than lose one, but that is a matter of one’s perspective isn’t it?

When we “fall back” we temporarily gain one hour of sleep but lose one hour of daylight. As we “spring forward,” we temporarily lose one hour of sleep but gain one hour of daylight. The benefits of all this seems to have gotten lost in the inconvenience that it causes us two times during the year. But then again, it is a matter of perspective isn’t it?

There are times when we are called to make adjustments to our “spiritual clocks” as well. Times in our lives when we “spring forward,” and other times when we “fall back.”Unlike Daylight Saving Time, these adjustments do not take place according to a man-made schedule. Our “spiritual clocks” are adjusted according to God’s sovereign plan.

Such adjustments were made in the life of Peter. Times where Peter “sprang forward” into a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. Then there were times when Peter “fell back” away from Christ, and into patterns that were long engrained into the disciple’s behavior. We are examining these times in the present series of Sunday messages, “Peter, Broken and Restored."

Thus, it is for all of the “living stones” that Christ is calling into his church. Each being shaped into the follower that Jesus intends them to be. It is a process of “falling back” and “springing forward!”

May we be blessed as we examine the brokenness of Peter, and the restoration he experienced in Christ.

May we examine ourselves, and our tendency to “fall back” into old ways.

But let us also anticipate the call of Christ to “spring forward” as wecontinue to be shapedby Him.

Spring blessings to all! PastorDave