July 16 - What Do You Say?

Today's Reading:
Ezekiel 31:1-32:32
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Proverbs 15:31-16:7 
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Focus Verses:
Matthew 16:13-17 
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Insight:
From the day of his birth (no, even before his birth), people have had many ideas about just who and what Jesus is. When Jesus asked his disciples to recount some of the things they had heard people say about him, they had no trouble producing a variety of answers.

"But what about you?" Jesus asked, "What do you say?"

Peter didn't have to go on hearsay and speculation; he had face-to-face, day-to-day experience with Jesus. This personal experience led him to conclude that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, God's anointed deliverer. He believed Jesus to be the only Son (sharing God's divine essence and authority) of the only true, living, and eternal God.

Response and Action:
Who do I say Jesus is? I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the World. I believe he is Lord, the only begotten Son of God—light from light, true God from true God, of one being with the Father. I will acknowledge him in all my ways. The way I actually live my life is, of course, the truest expression and testimony of what I claim to believe. Whatever I say about Jesus must be confirmed in my actions, choices, and attitudes.

O God, help me to follow your Son, Christ Jesus, with a whole heart. Help me to live out my faith in my words and in my deeds. Make my path straight as I make every effort every day to acknowledge Jesus to be my Savior and Master. Amen.

Spiritual Formation Verses: Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Resources:
The Incomparable Christ
by John Stott