Daily Bread 11-23-18
Matthew 16:17-19
17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
ref - Jn 1:42 - And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.
Isa 54:17 - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
If God is with us, who can be against us? Isn't it nice to know that if God has chosen us to this great of salvation that he is also not just acknowledging us but also rewarding us. He is also giving us power over our enemies. In this instance he is rewarding Peter for his faith and loyalty. He is giving to Peter the very thing that he created Peter to have. Whatever pathway that God takes us down we must remember to remain faithful as Peter was and to also know that in our faith lies all the promises that God has given us. Not the faith or the reward that man gives to us or plants in our minds, but the actual calling and reward that God reveals to us. When he calls us to it, it will not only be evident, it will be undeniable. But today we must determine who is our Lord? Is it the one who can bless us on earth with worldly things? Or is it a God that can put within us all of the qualifications and capabilities to bring a calling to perfection as well as the power to defeat our enemies. You see, man can only lead us to the water, and he can even teach us how to drink, but God is the one who must provide the water. And he can do unexplainable and extraordinary things in each and every one of us if we put him first over all other things and become obedient to what we have been given. How great it must have been for Peter to hear that the Christian Churches would be built by him! The same amazement and awe will be had when he reveals to each of us our place in the family of God. Just as we were amazed at what he put in us when he saved us, we will be even more in awe of his rewards. And take no doubt, and be not surprised, he has promised us and he will deliver what he says. He will show us our direction and he will put it inside of us. An undeniable Spirit within us that speaks to us and through us to show us the path that is laid out for each one of us. So today, and every day, let us pray to God as Christ instructed us and let His kingdom come on this earth, as it is in heaven! Let him have control and believe in him. He will take each of us to the highest height that we were created for, and that, God's people, is eternal life in glory!! If we want a good example of this faith that will bring us our calling we can look at Peter and find the same love for Christ that he had. It may not be within us right none but he can pout it in us life we believe in him. To God be the glory, great things he hath done, and continues to do, until Christ comes again!!! Have a great day!!!