May 9, 2023

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, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

 

Matthew 16:13-20

Devotional

Can you imagine Jesus saying to you that you are blessed, that you are the rock on which His church will be built, and that the gates of hell will not prevail against you or it? It’s overwhelming. In this passage, I see that Jesus saw something in Peter that Peter didn't quite see in himself—yet

 

We are all tied to the word yet. Jesus’ work in us is incomplete, yet we march forward for the day we are complete. We continue to labor and work to build His kingdom, yet we wait for His arrival and for His work to be finished. The same was true for Peter. Jesus saw in Peter what Peter couldn’t see in himself, yet he eventually would. He would become the rock Jesus claimed he would be. 

 

Jesus is calling you and me to become as well, to become what He sees in us. You and I are not there yet, but we are a glorious work, a poem in progress. Keep driving toward Him as we wait for our yets to be fulfilled.

For Reflection


What truths do you need to be reminded of regarding who God says you are in His eyes?

 

Are you fully living into the man or woman God has called you to be?

 

You and I may be long overdue to dream and envision a different life that Jesus longs for us to live: the abundant life.

Prayer


God, there is so much you desire for us. You have uniquely created us with your hands with gifts and talents to be used. Please help us and guide us. Plant in our hearts and minds a vision for our lives we may not be able to see. Drive us closer to becoming the men and women we were always meant to be as we long wait for yet to be done.

Rev. Cody Jensen
Pastor for Become
404-842-3158