Cut to the Heart
Whether we realize it or not, Christ is already in the pilot’s seat — sustaining all things and directing every moment.
Devotional Credit: Immeasurably More
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional from Ray Stedman brings us into the electric moment at Pentecost when Peter's bold proclamation of Christ’s resurrection hits the crowd like a thunderclap. These weren’t outsiders; they were the very people who had shouted for Jesus’ crucifixion just fifty days earlier. And now, in a sweeping turn, Peter declares that the same Jesus they rejected has been made “both Lord and Messiah.”
The crowd’s response was not defiance but a broken-hearted question: “What shall we do?” The writer helps us understand this visceral moment through a real-life analogy — it would be like angrily assaulting a man in a street altercation, only to realize moments later that he is your new boss. That shock, shame, and dread is what they felt.
But the real force of the devotional rests not in the guilt of that moment, but in the absolute inevitability of Jesus. He is not a philosophical option or spiritual lifestyle choice. He is Lord — whether we acknowledge Him or not. We cannot bypass Him. He is the inescapable center of all things, and eventually, every life must confront Him.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have highly exalted Him and given Him the name above every name. At His name every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. By Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. In the past I spoke through the prophets, but now I speak through My Son, whom I appointed heir of all things and through whom I made the universe. He is the radiance of My glory and the exact representation of My being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.
To some, He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. But to you who believe, He is precious. I have placed Him at the center of history, the pivot of time, the hope of nations, the Lord of hearts. Every soul must answer to Him. Every soul will see Him.
(Philippians 2:9–11; Colossians 1:15–17; Hebrews 1:1–3; 1 Peter 2:7–8)
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine you’re flying on a commercial airline, sitting comfortably in your seat, quietly reading or watching a movie. You’re vaguely aware of the flight attendants and the voice from the cockpit, but you don’t give them much thought. Then someone gently taps your shoulder and says, “The pilot has passed out. We need you to land the plane.” You would suddenly realize that everything — your safety, your direction, even your next breath — depends entirely on the one in the pilot’s seat. That’s the reality with Jesus. Whether you’re paying attention or not, your life is in His hands. He is not an optional figure in your journey — He is the one flying the plane.
Prayer of Confidence
Jesus, You are not just Lord in theory — You are Lord over every breath, every moment, every atom in existence. I rest today in the beautiful truth that You are not avoidable, and I don’t want to avoid You. You are not some add-on to life — You are the Source and Sustainer of it. Thank You that I know You not only as Lord of all but as the One who loves me and gave Himself for me. I live today in the peace of Your unshakable authority and the warmth of Your unfailing love.