21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Matthew 16:21-26

Questions for Reflection:

This had to be one of Peter's more humbling "Been with Jesus" stories.

What was Jesus teaching Peter about life as a disciple through this encounter?

How would this story help form and shape "Been with Jesus" courage in Peter which he would need to face the challenges Jesus knew would be coming?

How does it feel today to hear Jesus say, "deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me."? In what way is this call of Christ "lifegiving"?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed in You, to receive Your love and your Life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I love you, I worship You and trust you and surrender my self and my story to You. Today I want to “be with You, Jesus” and live the next chapter of my “been with Jesus” story.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit fill me afresh with Your presence, grace and power. Thank you Father for loving me so well, providing for me so appropriately and caring for my deepest as well as trivial needs. You are a good, good Father. I confess that I often take your daily love and care of me for granted – I regret that and now receive with thanks your complete and total forgiveness.

Holy Spirit, please help me remember and recall the ways you have shown yourself strong in my life. Recalling stories of your goodness, grace and power give me courage to live this day relentlessly dependent on You and live it really well.

Jesus, I deeply desire to live a courageous life in Your name marked by deep faith, surrender to Your calling and filled with the presence of Your Spirit. I renounce fear, anxiety, worry, doubt and self-reliance as the leaders of my heart, mind and living. I receive You Spirit as the master of my mind and leader of my thinking. I trust You Jesus and am overjoyed that I get to live this day fervently following You. I can have courage because You are with me and live in me.

Holy Spirit, lead me into opportunities today which will take courage in order to follow You and be a witness for You in this broken world. I deeply desire the courage to love people well, (perhaps name of the people you already know you are to love well today) to surrender my “self”, to make Spirit inspired decisions, to bring Your kingdom at all times and in every way, to trust Your grace and live with passion the meaningful life You intend for me to live today!

Amen