Scripture focus: When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. "And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven." He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16:12-20 The Message
Take some time this week and write down all the things that you know about God and his character.
Keep the list before you and pay attention to how you experience God daily.
Do you believe that God will never leave you nor forsake you? If so, do you experience an awareness of his loving presence throughout your day? Or are you walking around as if you’ve got the whole world on your shoulders with no one to help you carry out your faith responsibilities?
Do you believe that God loves you? How do you respond when you make a mistake – are you afraid of God’s response or eager to show God your boo-boo and ask him to help you take the next right step?
We have been promised complete and free access to God’s kingdom.
Lord, teach us how to experience your presence and the truth of all that we believe!
Recommended reading: Isaiah 53 - 55
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