Hello! Welcome to the PoG blog! Todays scripture is from Matthew 16! 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Sometimes Jesus asks tough questions! He seems to like making His listeners think – moving them deeper into understanding themselves and Him – if they will go. Sometimes people who listen to Jesus – both then and now- refuse to go deeper – refuse to follow His lead. Jesus wants His disciples to put into words what they are thinking of Him. In wise and cunning leadership fashion He starts by asking what the “people” think of Him and then moves to the big question – “Who do you say I am?”
Jesus seemed to know He had to get their minds straight on the subject of His identity and He knew that “saying” it out loud was important. The disciples needed to really own this truth that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That truth when not only learned but truly owned changes the way we act in everyday life..
In my life truly “owning” the truth of who Jesus is for me and for the world is the critical step of faith every day. I can know this and even consider it true but not own it. I have discovered that “owning up” to the truth of who Jesus is to me and to the world is a daily experience of stepping by faith into the reign of Jesus over my life. I have found daily prayer to be the most helpful tool for this. I try to pray a prayer something like this, “My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You – to be renewed in You to receive Your life and love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my Lord and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to You. I give you my body soul and spirit – my heart mind and will….’
I realize now after 50 years of life with Jesus that I desperately need to daily find myself with Peter answering Jesus’ question – every day each day. “Hey delton, who do you say that I am?” I get to daily step into the reality that Jesus is who He says He is and own that for my life each day. Stepping into my day owning the truth about who Jesus is for me and for my world changes the way I live today. I am loved and lead by the Son of God today – I am not alone to wander aimlessly or selfishly today – I get to be loved and lead by God today – the Christ makes that possible. And I get to treat all around me with that same kind of value and esteem – they are loved by the same Jesus whether they know it or not. Maybe I will get to be the one to tell them about “ the Christ, the Son of the Living God” who loves them and will lead them!
delton