COMING DOWN OFF YOUR MOUNTAIN

Today's reading: Matthew 17-19

"When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a huge crowd was waiting for them..." Matthew 17:14 NLT

Jesus, Peter, James and John had just had an amazing, faith-promoting time on the mountaintop.

I'm sure, like us, they hated to leave that spot. Too full of awe. Too full of hope. Too full of renewed belief. Too full of doubt something so great could ever happen again.

But they came down, as we all do.

And the crowds met them.

Needy people. Hurting people. Hungry people. People needing a touch. People needing a hand. People needing a little bit of what they, and we, had just gotten while on the mountain.

But there are other people in the crowd, too. 

Doubters.

Balloon-busters.

Nay-sayers.

Critics.

They are always in the crowd. Their crowd and your crowd.

They attempt to suck the life right out of any and every experience with the Lord that we have.

They present their questions. They doubt your experience. They put a spin on what you've been through that leaves you wondering why in the world you even shared it with anyone.

But you know, Jesus came down the mountain for them, too.

He still loved them.

He still touched them.

He still ministered to them.

And we must do the same!

Love them like Jesus.