Post by Woody Williams on Aug 21, 2005 4:56:19 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Matthew 16:13-20
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Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Devotional
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Peter makes a good confession. He is just as eager to blurt out what was given him by God, as he is eager to voice his own opinion. That's Peter. Would that we could all be so bold to proclaim what God reveals to us in our journey of faith, to speak out what is in our hearts concerning Jesus. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." That confession is the foundation upon which God builds the church. If Christians will make that confession, the church will continue to exist. If we stop making that confession in our words and actions, the church will be diminished. If Jesus is the Son of the living God and has been made known to us, how can we not give ourselves to share that news.
Prayer
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Lord, you have called me in your grace to believe in Jesus, empower me to witness to that. Amen
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Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Devotional
----------
Peter makes a good confession. He is just as eager to blurt out what was given him by God, as he is eager to voice his own opinion. That's Peter. Would that we could all be so bold to proclaim what God reveals to us in our journey of faith, to speak out what is in our hearts concerning Jesus. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." That confession is the foundation upon which God builds the church. If Christians will make that confession, the church will continue to exist. If we stop making that confession in our words and actions, the church will be diminished. If Jesus is the Son of the living God and has been made known to us, how can we not give ourselves to share that news.
Prayer
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Lord, you have called me in your grace to believe in Jesus, empower me to witness to that. Amen