Who Me?
I Cor. 1:26 – 29 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
Isn’t it astounding that Almighty God would choose broken, sin filled men and women to accomplish His eternal purposes? This could only take place because of God’s mercy, grace and goodness. I certainly do not deserve the honor of being used by God and probably you are like me, humbled by the very fact that experiencing Almighty God’s love is the best thing that has ever happened to you. It is absolutely true that “In him, we live, move and have our being.” Acts17:28 Great love and great grace has been given to us. I understand King David’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple in 1 Chron.29:14b “But who am I, and who are my people?” In the natural, we have nothing to boast about or greatness to claim. This life is all about Him and not about us. God help us learn this!
Mt.16:13 -19 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, Jerimiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say the Son of Man is?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
There are many commentaries on this well quoted text. I would like to focus on the very simple truth that The Son of God chose man to build something mighty that would determine all humans eternal destiny. It was God’s design to use broken, unlearned and character flawed men to herald the greatest message to humanity. The message of salvation or deliverance from sin and the promise of eternal hope to those who turn to God the Father.
Jesus did not accidentally direct his question to Peter because he was standing nearby. Jesus was very purposeful in speaking directly to Peter, whose name meant the rock or stone. Just two verses later, Jesus rebukes satan and his interference in Peter’s life. We are talking about the same guy that Jesus was imparting this amazing gospel message to, one who would be part of the very foundation of The Church, The Body of Christ on this earth. WOW!
Notice that Jesus did not dismiss Peter from His selected group. Matthew 17 tells us that Jesus invited Peter, James and John to be with him on the Mount of Transfiguration where they witnessed a supernatural manifestation of Father God. Peter was invited to this most holy event even though Jesus knew he was a very broken man and that he would later betray and deny Him. Jesus knew Peter’s heart and his future. This encounter with God would deeply mark Peter, even though we see Peter’s brokenness in the rest of his journey. All of us fit the identification in being “lowly and weak” as 1 Cor. 1 noted.
Jesus knew Peter’s redemption story, just like He knows yours, from beginning to the end. Your story is not finished yet. You have chapters unwritten, and the final chapters of your story is the best part. They will tell of your courage to get up when you wanted to disappear and quit. They will tell of your acts of faith when it took everything in you to trust God. They will tell of the deepening love for your Father in Heaven and of His Son who made you worthy to be part of His story.
The worship song lyrics read, “He isn’t done with you yet, there is more to your story!”
Isn’t it astounding that Almighty God would choose broken, sin filled men and women to accomplish His eternal purposes? This could only take place because of God’s mercy, grace and goodness. I certainly do not deserve the honor of being used by God and probably you are like me, humbled by the very fact that experiencing Almighty God’s love is the best thing that has ever happened to you. It is absolutely true that “In him, we live, move and have our being.” Acts17:28 Great love and great grace has been given to us. I understand King David’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple in 1 Chron.29:14b “But who am I, and who are my people?” In the natural, we have nothing to boast about or greatness to claim. This life is all about Him and not about us. God help us learn this!
Mt.16:13 -19 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, Jerimiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say the Son of Man is?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
There are many commentaries on this well quoted text. I would like to focus on the very simple truth that The Son of God chose man to build something mighty that would determine all humans eternal destiny. It was God’s design to use broken, unlearned and character flawed men to herald the greatest message to humanity. The message of salvation or deliverance from sin and the promise of eternal hope to those who turn to God the Father.
Jesus did not accidentally direct his question to Peter because he was standing nearby. Jesus was very purposeful in speaking directly to Peter, whose name meant the rock or stone. Just two verses later, Jesus rebukes satan and his interference in Peter’s life. We are talking about the same guy that Jesus was imparting this amazing gospel message to, one who would be part of the very foundation of The Church, The Body of Christ on this earth. WOW!
Notice that Jesus did not dismiss Peter from His selected group. Matthew 17 tells us that Jesus invited Peter, James and John to be with him on the Mount of Transfiguration where they witnessed a supernatural manifestation of Father God. Peter was invited to this most holy event even though Jesus knew he was a very broken man and that he would later betray and deny Him. Jesus knew Peter’s heart and his future. This encounter with God would deeply mark Peter, even though we see Peter’s brokenness in the rest of his journey. All of us fit the identification in being “lowly and weak” as 1 Cor. 1 noted.
Jesus knew Peter’s redemption story, just like He knows yours, from beginning to the end. Your story is not finished yet. You have chapters unwritten, and the final chapters of your story is the best part. They will tell of your courage to get up when you wanted to disappear and quit. They will tell of your acts of faith when it took everything in you to trust God. They will tell of the deepening love for your Father in Heaven and of His Son who made you worthy to be part of His story.
The worship song lyrics read, “He isn’t done with you yet, there is more to your story!”
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