But Who Do You Say That I Am?

2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 9:10; Psalm 13:5; Psalm 31:14; Psalm 84:12; Proverbs 28:26

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples what is being said about who He is and then asks them who they believe He is. Of course Peter answers correctly that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus calls Peter blessed, recognizing that he had not received that information from man but from God the Father. However, Jesus rebukes Peter just 6 verses later for trying to convince Him that this plan of dying was a mistake. Surely if He was God, He could take care of the sins of the world in some other way. Jesus recognized that Satan was trying to stop Him from what He came here to do; to die so that we might have everlasting life.

I think it's funny how we can acknowledge the existence of the God that created and upholds the universe and everything in it, yet have difficulty fully trusting Him to know what's best for us. We often feel as if He doesn't understand our situation. "He just doesn't know what I'm going through." 

Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus does know and understand what you and I are going through. Hebrews 4:15 says "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." He understands your pain and sufferings. He chose to come to this earth as a man and feel pain the way that you and I feel pain. He knows what it is like to be human.

Trust the Lord to take you down whatever path He knows is necessary for you to grow in. Trust Him to make you stronger. Trust that He knows what tomorrow holds and what you need better than you could ever know yourself. Just trust Him. He will never let you down.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NASB) Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Pastor Mike Deese