Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, November 22, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-11-22-2018

This is devotional thought number 22 and final in our devotional series, “The Protest is Not Over: Transformation is Key to Reformation.”

Let me say, before we open the Word, that we will continue to create short pictorial posts on this devotional theme for some time as we move our devotional series forward under other themes. Please visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Messagemagazine/

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:15–18).

Among the most important questions any of us must answer in life is, “Who is Jesus to me?”. This is no mere intellectual question, where a teacher can objectively evaluate our responses for accuracy. We don't get a gold star for getting it “right.” No! The answer that resides in each of our bosoms is deep, essential, and a matter of eternal life and death. This answer must be on our hearts every day the Lord awakens us.

When Jesus asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man am?”, He was leading them to a contrast to eliminate the noisy competition. I’m sure Herod was paranoid thinking Jesus was reincarnated or resurrected John the Baptist, whom he beheaded on a foolish promise; who gut checked him for his relationship choices. I am sure that many then and now misbelieve (yes, I made up that word) Him to be the fulfillment of the Elijah whom Malachi prophesied would come. By the way, I have seen powerful sermons full of error misteaching this very thing. I am sure that many religions even in our day think Jesus is one of many good men, prophets, avatars; or even one of the chief among many. Unfortunately, among the biggest, most blasphemous culprits of miseducation regarding our Lord and Saviour, are those who make Jesus play second fiddle to Peter; who make Him subject to His deceased mother’s intercessions; who make Him subject to the church’s assessment of who must be forgiven and who must not; who make Him subject to their thoughts regarding which of the Ten Commandments are still valid and which are not; who make Him only one of the mediators between God and humanity; who make Him subject to a religious leader’s command to come down and inhabit a tiny little wafer and cup of fermented wine; who make Him and His everlasting priesthood so powerless that He needs earthly ones to handle confessions and entry passes into the kingdom for Him; who make Him one among many whose name is holy and reverend; who reduce His Word to one of many good reads, second to dogma and the infallibility of the papacy.

Who is Jesus to you? Is Jesus the One who gave all to save you from your sins? Is Jesus the One to whom, and through whose name you pray? Is He the Rock and Chief Cornerstone of your confession and faith? Is Jesus the One whose mindset you accept for daily living? Is He Life and Light to you? Is He your Strength and Shield? Is Jesus your Peace? Is Jesus your Wisdom and Salvation? Is Jesus the Word of God to you? Huh? Is Jesus Love and your Holiness to you? When you are broke, do you trust Him? When you are sick, buffeted, or in trouble, is He your only Hope? Is Jesus the One your are looking forward to seeing at His Second Coming? Who...