Matthew16:15b;17:5b

There r “GARGANTUAN” moments n our lives that we must decide whether or not these r 2 have the significance n our lives they r meant 2 have,or not!N chapters 16&17 of Matthew,we see a couple of these n the life of Peter.N the Sovereign Wisdom of Jesus,He knew it was time 2 ask Peter a “GARGANTUAN” question that Peter was ready 2 answer correctly-“But who do you say that I am?”(Matt16:15b).Peter answers,”You r The Christ,The Son of The Living God.”Jesus tells Peter that his correct answer is made possible ONLY by GOD revealing it to him!WHO Jesus is,is so GARAGANTUALLY significant,that n our human capacity alone we will never b capable of “internalizing” the Eternal Significance of WHO Jesus is! That Jesus IS GOD made flesh->”And The Word became flesh & dwelt among us,& we have seen His Glory,Glory as the only Son from the Father,full of Grace & Truth.”(John1:14).The only way we can begin to fathom the true significance of this,is because of God intervening n our hearts/lives somehow..2 bring this reality 2 our “knowing”!But,”knowing” is just the first step! Even Satan is “knowing” WHO Jesus is...! N God’s Great Loving concern 4 our Eternal Lives(ncluding our “here and now”),HE takes Peter,James,&John 2 the “next step” n Matt17:5b!God’s  Voice speaks personally 2 them and says,”This IS My beloved Son,w Whom I am well pleased;listen 2 Him.”When God speaks here,God Himself is telling us that to “only” know the right answer about Who Jesus is...is good,but not “enough”.We must assimilate n2 our lives the personal significance of God making us aware of this Truth,so we may have the Blessings of what HIS TRUTH makes possible for us!When God speaks 2 Peter,James,& John...HE is letting us know we must “take the next step”,and listen to Him!
A definition for “listen” is:
1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often followed by to): Children don't always listen to their parents.
3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually followed by for).
God is pleading w us 2 not “just personally acknowledge Who Jesus is”,but acknowledge the SIGNIFICANCE of Who Jesus is,& seek Him;wait for Him;pay attention to Him,follow Him,etc.Dear Lord, so much of my life I feel a false sense of security in my knowing Who You are,and don’t let that REALITY impact my life! Lord,let the REALITY of Who You are, “astound” my life w reverberations through my entire life that change me,and draw me ever closer 2 You!

Matthew 14:1-12

Pride is the very “attribute” that will stand in the way of our lives having room for God & His Grace&Mercy to root and grow in our lives(Psalm10:4,”In his pride the wicked does not seek him(the Lord);in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”).And it will make us do things that we would rather not do!Pride not dealt with n our lives will become a horrible “MANIPULATOR” of our life.This happens to Herod n Matthew 14:1-12.Herod’s pride had so consumed him that n a vile abuse of his authority,he arrests John the Baptist for no RIGHT&TRUE reason.A dangerous characteristic of pride is that it ultimately “manipulates” us away from good reason,away from anything close to wisdom...and away from TRUTH!N fact,when pride takes over n our lives,TRUTH becomes our “adversary”-what we run from!While JtB is n Herod’s jail,he throws a birthday party for himself.Herod is pleased by a young dancer,& pride manipulates him n2 making a promise w/out thinking about the possible ramifications of such a wild promise.She asks for the head of JtB.Even though this distressed Herod very much,he lets his pride manipulate him away from what he knows is RIGHT&TRUE.(Matt14:9,”The king was distressed,but because of his oaths & dinner guests,he ordered that her request b granted & had John beheaded n the prison.”).Herod knew that it was not RIGHT what was requested,but his pride MANIPULATED him so strongly that he does it anyway!Pride will manipulate us away from RIGHT&TRUTH...and choke out the potential for GOD’s PRESENCE in our life.Dear Lord,there are areas in my life that pride is choking YOUR PRESENCE from growing n and through my life.May Your Holy Spirit & Your Word make me “miserably aware” of these areas,so I would deal with them with Your help...& free Your Holy Spirit 2 root & grow n all areas of my life!

Matthew 13:3-4;18-19

The Lord God desires for all 2 come 2 KNOW HIM;for everyone 2 come 2 have HIS REDEMPTION from the grave “created” by sin.The grave that actually makes us “dead men/women walking” if we have not been REDEEMED by the Blood of Christ!We don’t “just begin” the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice when we die,but at the moment we turn our lives over 2 Christ-seeking&trusting Him w our lives(N John10:1 Jesus says,”The thief(Satan)comes only 2 steal&kill&destroy,I came that they might have life & have it abundantly.”)A major tactic of Satan’s is to confuse our RIGHT UNDERSTANDING of life,& especially our RIGHT UNDERSTANDING of WHO God is,& WHAT God pleas 4 us 2 accept from Christ!The way Satan primarily does this is by messing w our “understanding” of God,2 the point of making God & His Ways “un-understandable” n worldly/fleshly terms.Our minds will have great difficulty n appreciating God’s Mercy&Grace when we allow our minds 2 think based on “fleshly/worldly” ways of living&thinking!Only when we begin 2 ponder “outside” of this life,& earnestly seek 2 “rightly know” the true purpose of life (setting our minds on things of the Spirit)will we have an honest potential 2 know the “life more abundant” that Christ desires us 2 have(Romans8:5-6.”For those who live according 2 the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh,but those who live according 2 the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit).Sorta/kinda like “missing the forest for the trees”!Jesus talks about this n the Parable of the Sower(Matthew13:3-4,18-19;”...so the seeds fell along the path & the birds came & devoured them.....When anyone hears the Word of The Kingdom& does not understand it,the evil one comes & snatches away what has been sowed n his heart...”).God desperately desires 4 everyone 2 KNOW/UNDERSTAND His Mercy&Grace through Christ,& to have “abundant life”!(1Timothy2:4,”....God our Savior...desires all people 2 b saved & come 2 the KNOWLEDGE OF the truth.4 there is ONE GOD, &there is ONE mediator between God & men,the man Christ Jesus.”)Even though I have trusted Christ as my Savior, I may b missing “abundant life” when I allow my “train of life&thought” 2 b overwhelmed by fleshly/worldly things(the trees),&drift from things of the Spirit(the forest,I.e.,”the bigger picture” of life & it’s Meaning/Purpose).The stuff that happens on a daily basis which causes this drift,may very well b a way the enemy is messing w me...2 veer my life away from the “abundant life” Jesus wants me 2 have,& away from daily knowing God’s Voice n my life!Dear Jesus,my mind&life so easily drift away from things of the Spirit & onto things that r worldly/fleshly! I pray 4 Your Holy Spirit 2 make me aware of this drift when it occurs,& 2 b my source of strength&courage&discipline2 correct the course of my life/mind 2,so I will know Your Spirit’s “course” toward the “abundant life” You desire for me!

Matthew 11:2-4

Satan is always attempting 2 discredit God n 1 way or another.The devil will work his way n2 our hearts&minds so he can make us have doubts about The Almighty God-Father,Son,&Holy Spirit!He does this by demeaning what The Lord has created;what The Lord has said;what the Lord has done;&what the Lord has shown us.And, he will make us “absentminded” of what The Lord has personally done n our lives!N Matthew11:2-4,John the Baptist has been attacked by the devil with this tactic!JtB sends word 2 Jesus asking Him,”Are you the one who is to come,or shall we look for another?”John the Baptist(JtB)was the one that baptized Jesus,&heard the Voice of God say,”This is my beloved Son,with whom I am well pleased.”(Matt:3:17b).Yet,n Matt11:2-4,JtB is seriously doubting Jesus.Jesus’ response is “awesome”!Jesus shows no signs of being upset w JtB over his doubting,nor does Jesus n any way try 2 make JtB “feel bad” about doubting.Nstead,Jesus reminds JtB of what he has seen Jesus do;what he has heard from Jesus;what he has heard from God.N doing this,Jesus is pointing JtB to Scripture/what The Old Testament has said about Jesus...so JtB will have what he has seen & heard,tested&proven by God’s Word about Jesus!We must “true up” all life w Scripture,ESPECIALLY a living relationship w Almighty God!The Lord does the same thing n our lives that he did w JtB.HE is always revealing HIMSELF 2 us through all creation,& life experiences,& HIS Word.But,if we r not grounded n God’s Word,we will b prey 2 the devil’s schemes that make us doubt GOD;GOD’s Love;GOD’s Wisdom;GOD’s Plan...& most of all WHO JESUS IS!Lord Jesus,I have had doubts about You;what I have heard from You,& even had doubts about what I have seen You DO n my life.Thank You,for the loving way that You come 2 me when I have these.For my own sake,please give me a growing hunger 2 know You more&more through Your Word & through prayer,and by Your Grace help me 2 live my days n all ways that honor WHO YOU are,& what You have done for me.

Matthew 9:16-17

N Matthew9:16-17 Jesus addresses the 2 major challenges we have n truly knowing HIM as Lord,& sustaining a vibrant relationship w HIM!Jesus 1st says that “no one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment,4 the patch will pull away from the garment,making the tear worse.”Jesus is telling the followers of John the Baptist that their “idea” of WHO HE IS,is not accurate...not BIG ENOUGH!That their lives would never benefit from HIS Presence with their current “ideas”/beliefs about HIM!If we ONLY believe that Jesus is a “super human prophet” from God with perfect wisdom,and/or JUST a “super human savior” from God that we need to listen to and follow...we will tragically miss what Jesus alone can do for our lives!Jesus is NOT any of the things above...HE is INFINITELY MORE!HE IS THE SON of the TRIUNE GOD....HE IS GOD!He is nothing less than GOD!When I believe less,my life will fade from the GLOW of GOD’S GLORY...the personal “benefits” of HIS Mercies&Grace,as well as the joys of seeing those around me impacted by GOD’s presence n & thru my life.Almost every aspect of our environment,ncluding church Programs,endeavors 2 put Jesus n a box of some kind!But,Jesus being GOD will not fit n any box of any understanding we r capable of.Every one of us will forever b learning more & more about WHO HE is,& what HE can do...what HE only desires 2 do for me(the BEST for me(Romans8:28)).It is a tragedy of epic proportions 2 miss THIS,because of having an anemic paradigm of Jesus!Jesus follows this statement w,”Neither do men pour new wine n2 old wineskins.If they do,the skins will burst,the wine will run out & the wineskins will b ruined.No,they pour new wine n2 new wineskins,& both r preserved.”N essence,Jesus is saying that if these folks “accept” the fact the Jesus is GOD,& do not have lives that r “made new”by HIS Presence n their lives..,they will ultimately turn from TRUTH...turn away from JESUS!2Corinthians4:17 says,”Therefore,if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation.The old has passed away;behold,the new has come.”If WHO JESUS IS,is to have an everlasting BENEFIT n our lives,then the old must pass away,& we must b made new by HIS Presence n our lives.If not,eventually my life will “burst”/I will b “disabled” by my own resistance 2 GOD’s ways 2 have my life transformed by WHO HE is;transformed 2 b an Eternal Benefactor of GOD’s Mercy&Grace n all areas of my life!Dear Jesus,I do not have a BIG ENOUGH appreciation for WHO YOU are! Forgive me,& lead me so I am ever growing 2 know YOU more&more!And through YOUR Grace,make me new every day...so I will never “burst” from YOUR Presence n my life.