Thursday, September 5, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

Blessings for the Rock-Solid

Matthew 16:18 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.

Have you ever met someone and once you learn that person's name you think, "hmmm, that name really doesn't fit?"

When Jesus first encountered the disciple that would later be referred to as Peter, he called him by his birth name of Simon. However, Jesus saw a "Peter" in him instead.

Peter was bestowed a name change by Jesus because of a response to a question that revealed his wisdom and steadfast faith in the Lord.

In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus asks the disciples who do people believe that He is. They replied that some believe he is John the Baptist and others believe he is one of the great prophets of old. More importantly, Jesus asked, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the LIVING God."

In response, Jesus declared Peter blessed insisting that his wisdom came from God and not from human knowledge. He then named him "Peter" meaning "rock" and professed that on "this rock I will build my church."

Many people remember Peter as the disciple that denied Jesus three times. Others remember him as the disciple that began to walk on water towards Jesus but then lost faith and sank. While these accounts may make him seem "rocky," that was not Jesus' view of Peter. Jesus KNEW Peter yet He still called him "rock-solid."

It wasn't Peter's actions that caused him to have a heavenly name change. Rather, it was the fact that Peter recognized who Jesus was...The Messiah...The Son of the Living God. He may have had some momentary doubts and fear, but those emotions were quickly overshadowed by the realization of Who Jesus was and still IS!

I challenge you today to get into His Word and to go to Him in prayer in your moments of doubt and fear. Remind yourself of Who Jesus really IS. Even today, many people have NUMEROUS ideas of Who Jesus is, but the ones that He calls rock-solid....the ones that He will build His church on....the ones that He will pour out His blessings upon ARE the ones that REALLY know Him and live for Him.

Don't accept the world's lofty ideas of who the Messiah is...get to know Him for yourself. Then, when faced with life's challenges, you can firmly plant your feet on the "rock-solid" realization of a Savior that can and will do ANYTHING for you!

Dear Lord, Thank You that You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Your Spirit is alive and at work. I put my trust and hope in You!

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.