A couple years ago I preached a youth gathering. The theme for the weekend was choices. I had a hard time finding the right bible text to use for the message and started to get frustrated. My bible fell to the ground and opened to Matthew 16... No lie!
In verse 15 Jesus asks Peter "Who do you say I am?" As I read and re-read I realized that this was the most important choice any person will ever make. Who do you say Jesus is?
We make a lot of choices everyday. For example, we have to decide what to wear and what to eat. How long do you spend every day deciding what you are going to wear? How long do you discuss with your spouse what's for dinner, or where you will go to eat? We put time into these decisions.
How much time have you put into deciding who Jesus is?
Is he a great teacher? Is he a prophet? Was he just some weirdo? Or is he the Son of God, the Messiah?
Take your time before you answer. It's an important question.
I will caution you, if you believe Jesus is the Son of God, don't so what Peter did. Peter gets the answer right in verse 16 and Jesus praises him for it. Then in verse 22 he rebukes Jesus for predicting his death. Jesus responds with "Get behind me Satan."
If you believe Jesus is the Son of God, don't tell him what to do.
God knows better than us.
So many days I have told Jesus what I want him to do for me (usually cloaked in a request for something). Thanks for the reminder.
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