Today's Reading: Matthew 16: 13-20
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Matthew 16: 13-20
Bible Study
Yesterday's passage Jesus challenged his disciples and us who are we really listening to. Today's passage we have the answer of who we should be listening to. Actually, not only listening but to obey also!
N.T. Wright says:
What Peter and the others were saying was: you are the true king. You're the one Israel has been waiting for. You are God's adopted son, the one of whom the Psalms and prophets had spoken.
They knew it was risky. With this, they were not only signing on to be part of a prophetic movement that challenged existing authorities in God's name; they were signing on for a royal challenge. Jesus was the true king! That meant that Herod - and even faraway Caesar - had better look out.
Jesus isn't going to build an actual city, or an actual Temple. He is going to build a community, consisting of all those who give allegiance to him as God's anointed king. And this movement, this community, starts then and there, at Caesarea Philippi, with Peter's declaration.
Peter, with this declaration of faith, will be the starting point of this community. Peter has much to learn, and many failures to overcome - including one in the very next passage. But even this is part of the process.
What is the process? The process is that whether you know who you should listen to, from listening to the voice of the king of this world, to make other people to listen to you, to perhaps really listening to Jesus and obey him as you King. That is the process!
Are you in this process? How are you in this process? Is Jesus really your Lord and King?
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Jesus, listen and obey to Jesus only!
What I received from Jesus today is a heart to heart question from Jesus to you personally. Take a deep breath, wait, then answer this question with a prayer to Jesus.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Forgive our weaknesses that so often we are not able to listen and obey to your word, guidance and command as our Lord and King. Help us to follow Peter's example to declare boldly to you and the others that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, our Lord and King. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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