Daily Devotional for Monday 3rd June
Getting it right
Do you remember what it feels like to sit in a classroom and the teacher asks you a question? You really want to get it right! Your classmates are watching, and you want look good in front of them. If your teacher is someone you admire and look up to, you want to please him by showing him you’ve been paying attention and have learned from him.
What started out as a gentle “let’s talk about this” kind of topic, when Jesus, the Teacher, asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” turned into a pointed, dig deep, kind of question, when Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
The first question was easy. They say You are “John the Baptist” or “Elijah” or maybe a prophet.
The second question was harder. “Who do you say that I am”? Jesus asked.
Simon (Peter) pulls out the right answer, and he says, “You are the Christ! The Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus then warns the disciples not to tell people about that yet as the time was not ready for that revelation.
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus goes on to say this, “‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:17-18).
Not only does Peter get the answer right, he gets a new name!
Time to reflect…
· If Jesus were to ask us who we thought He was, what would we say?
· Are we willing to tell other people who Jesus is and why He is important?
· Who do we care about impressing the most?
Pause to pray…
Dear Father God, please forgive me when I worry more about what people think than what You think of me. Help me to live for You, for an audience of One! Please help me communicate how wonderful it is to know You, be loved by You, and be a part of Your family to everyone I meet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
