The Resistance - Day 23
Day 23: Wednesday, March 01
Read Matthew 16:13-28
Highlight
Peter’s confession of Christ is a profound moment in the gospel accounts. In fact, if you attend Compassion, you’ve heard this confession before because it’s part of the confession that every new believer repeats before they are baptized in the name of Jesus. All who confess this share in what’s true of Peter: a loving Father revealed that truth to all of us so that we can find a saving relationship with the Son of God!
This scene also includes an extreme high and low in the life of Peter. When Peter declares Jesus’ identity, he receives praise and a new name from Jesus: Peter, the “rock.” Jesus also makes it clear that Peter has allowed God to guide his thoughts to this understanding. Yet as Jesus helps his disciples understand that the Christ must suffer and die for the sins of the world, Peter has an extraordinarily arrogant response. He confessed that Jesus was the Christ and then spoke as if he knew more of God’s will than the Christ himself.
In response, Jesus calls Peter a different kind of rock: a “stumbling block.” And Jesus makes it clear what has changed: Peter is no longer maintaining the perspective of God, but has reverted to thinking only of human desires. A godly perspective is often the difference between us standing on a firm foundation or us stumbling through life.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Read Matthew 16:13-28
Highlight
Peter’s confession of Christ is a profound moment in the gospel accounts. In fact, if you attend Compassion, you’ve heard this confession before because it’s part of the confession that every new believer repeats before they are baptized in the name of Jesus. All who confess this share in what’s true of Peter: a loving Father revealed that truth to all of us so that we can find a saving relationship with the Son of God!
This scene also includes an extreme high and low in the life of Peter. When Peter declares Jesus’ identity, he receives praise and a new name from Jesus: Peter, the “rock.” Jesus also makes it clear that Peter has allowed God to guide his thoughts to this understanding. Yet as Jesus helps his disciples understand that the Christ must suffer and die for the sins of the world, Peter has an extraordinarily arrogant response. He confessed that Jesus was the Christ and then spoke as if he knew more of God’s will than the Christ himself.
In response, Jesus calls Peter a different kind of rock: a “stumbling block.” And Jesus makes it clear what has changed: Peter is no longer maintaining the perspective of God, but has reverted to thinking only of human desires. A godly perspective is often the difference between us standing on a firm foundation or us stumbling through life.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
- What truth does this passage communicate about God? About us? About our world?
- Has God used this passage to highlight something that is wrong in your life?
- What does this passage teach us to do? What is one practical thing you can do to apply this to your life?
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Posted in The Resistance