We all have to answer crucial questions in life. When we’re young, our grandmother asks, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and we can say “A fireman” or “A princess” without following through. But, in time, the “What will you do with your life?” a question like this requires a mature, thoughtful, and prayerful answer.
“Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. “But what about you?” He asked. “WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.” Jesus replied, “BLESSED ARE YOU, SIMON son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by MY FATHER IN HEAVEN.” (Matthew 16:13-17) When we yield ourselves to God He will reveal things to us, as He did to Peter, “The LORD OUR GOD HAS SECRETS KNOWN TO NO ONE. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are ACCOUNTABLE FOREVER FOR ALL THAT HE HAS REVEALED TO US, so that WE MAY OBEY ALL the terms of these instructions.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
God revealed to Peter who Jesus is, so, how did Peter do? “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day He would be raised from the dead. But Peter took Him aside and began to scold Him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” JESUS TURNED TO PETER AND SAID, “GET AWAY FROM ME, SATAN! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, NOT FROM GOD’S.” (Matthew 16:21-23) Was Peter thinking, since God revealed who Jesus is and Jesus called him Blessed, did he now have the right to scold Jesus? NO, Jesus said, “I am the WAY, and the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except THROUGH ME. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him…WHOEVER HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER.” (John 14:6-7, 9) “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY SPIRIT, and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7 MKJV)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham