Verse of the Day 10/24

Verse of the Day 10/24

Matthew 16:17-18 New King James Version

17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shallprevail against it.

In verse 15 Jesus asks the disciples "who do you say I am?" to which Peter famously responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God".  The church, the gathering of His followers is built upon this statement this belief.  It was not built upon Peter, the person, but upon his belief and faith in God.

I heard this verse referenced recently in our couples small group meeting where we watche "Big Church" from Andy Stanley.  He pointed out that "the gates of hell" in today's verses can also be translated "death".  It doesn't change the meaning but it reminds us that death is not the end, it can't diminish our faith, it can't hold us back from our eternal destiny, our everlasting life with our Savior.  He has conquered death, tore down those bars, opened the gates to heaven.

What is your response to Jesus' question, "who do you say I am"?  If your response is the same as Peter's, the gates of hell; death; will have no power over you, you will be raised to new life.

This all reminded my of the Bill Gaither hymn "Because He Lives".  Life is worth the living because He lives.

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Blessings,

Mike

Matthew 16:15-19

New King James Version

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [b]

will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."