Today will be my final devotional with Wilderness Wanderings as we welcome Pastor Anthony back from his sabbatical. Thank you for the opportunity to journey with you over these past four months. I have been encouraged and uplifted by many of you. Today I am once again pulling from a student publication, this one that I wrote in January of this year.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I'm tired. I'm angry. I'm lonely. I'm overwhelmed. I'm afraid. Have you spoken, or even thought any of these words over the past months, weeks, or days? Well, if you have you're not alone. And it's easy to get caught up in the raging storm, especially when it's so long, so big, so all-encompassing. It often seems easier to put up a front, showing our friends, neighbours, family and church community that we're strong, that we're getting through this and that we're okay. And don't the physical masks we wear right now help us to achieve that? It's easy to show others that we're brave, strong and that everything's okay when half of our faces are hidden behind a physical mask when we're in contact with others. We've been through a lot over the last year, and none of us can see what's on the other side of the horizon yet. That's God's territory. He knows what's to come. And He knows where we're really at too.

As I was listening to music, a song came on that I had heard many times before, "Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns. This song gives me peace in knowing that God not only holds my life and my heart, but loves me, and never lets me go. On this day, however, as I listened to the opening verse my mind started turning beyond these truths.

Verse 1: Hold it all together, everybody needs you strong. But life hits you out of nowhere, and barely leaves you holding on. And when you're tired of fighting, chained by your control, there's freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go.

The first line of this song is exactly what I've been seeing around me. On social media, Facebook friends are posting cute pictures of their kids and walks in the park. Smiling faces and good times. Lots of people give "likes" for those sorts of things. That's what people want to see and read about. That's what people need. Especially right now. We want to be seen as strong and resilient because maybe, just maybe that will bring others hope.

Or maybe it's just because we don't want to let other people see our struggles and pain.

How would others view us if we allowed them to see beneath our masks? Not the physical masks we're wearing right now. Our internal ones. The masks that show us to be holding on, staying strong, doing well, getting through with a bit of breathing room to spare. As a parent, when my children see me having a rough day, I often want to hide what I'm going through. I want my children to see me as a resilient and joy-filled mom who can handle anything. But they know the truth. They've experienced stress and hardship too.

Others don't need to know that we're strong and holding it all together. They need to know that God is stronger than the best strong-front we can put on. He holds us and loves us and is our greatest strength amid our greatest weaknesses and times of trial. God's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9). He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless (Is 40:29). This is what the Casting Crowns song is talking about! When we are tired, angry, lonely, overwhelmed, afraid…it is in these places that God reaches down to hold us, uphold us, strengthen us and reveal His power in us. He carries us when we are having trouble carrying ourselves and His power in and through us becomes our greatest strength when we are weak. We don't need to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Christ has already taken it all.

But it's hard to lay down our burdens. That involves surrender to God. Letting go of everything we hold dear. It means letting go of our pride, our self-sufficiency, and our own strength that we often rely on. Surrender means to admit that we're not enough, and never will be, and that's okay. Surrender means that we don't have to put on a front and show the world or fellow Christians that we're strong, resilient, and we're doing just fine. Surrender, although to the world's standards sounds like weakness, is in fact the place where our true strength begins, not where it ends.

Because in surrender we find that our weakest, most broken place has room to start the journey towards healing and wholeness. In the act of surrender, that is, our every weakness and strength, hope for the future and despair from the past, we will find a peace and a strength like no other. And that is because in our weakness God is made strong.

Do we need others to see that we're always strong and holding on? It is in our weaknesses, brokenness and imperfections that God's strength is most acutely seen. And isn't that who we really want the world to see in us? So maybe right now we don't need to hold on and be strong. Maybe this is the time to let it all go and let some of our weakness and brokenness show through. It is there that our True Strength is found.

A special, extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings! The text is Romans 12:14-21 from the New International Version of the Bible. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection!

To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube. Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca

Dive IN Questions

1. Is it easy to submit to authority? Why is it easier in some situations than others?
2. What two reasons does Paul give for submitting to those in authority?
3. Compare and contrast authority in the Roman Empire with our own situation.
4. In what ways can you live out Paul's instructions in this passage?

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything (Deuteronomy 2:7).

Here is portrait of the mercy and grace of God. On the internet mercy is defined this way: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. That is exactly what this passage illustrates.

Here is how.

Recall, Israel is on the verge of entering the Promised Land. Forty years prior they had been in the same position. However, at that time Israel insulted God by not trusting him. After everything he had done for them in delivering them from Egypt and providing for their original journey the wilderness and defeating their enemies, they gave in to fear and said, "God, you can't do it. We don't believe you can give us this land. Its current occupants are too strong. We're going back to Egypt."

One can imagine God saying, 'Fine, go back, see how you manage.' Many of us would have washed our hands of the matter and found somebody else. How ungrateful can one be?

But our text tells us that God had a very different reaction. Yes, he did punish them for their unbelief. That whole generation died in the wilderness. They were unable to enter that land flowing with milk and honey.

As Moses recounts the story of their most recent travels, he mentions that they needed to go through the territory belonging to Esau's descendants. Esau was Jacob's twin brother. And Jacob was renamed Israel. God instructed them to pay for everything they ate and drank in Esau's territory (2:6).

Now hold on for a moment. After a 40-year journey, they have money left over? They were slaves in Egypt. Yes, the Egyptians loaded them up with goods as they left, but that is all they had. After 40 years they have money left to pay for food and drink. End of a 40-year journey and they are flush with cash? How can that be?

The people who had insulted God by not trusting him have been blessed by him so that they can pay their way through Esau's territory. They want for nothing! The Lord gave them food, clothing, and protection.

The words from the hymn, "How Firm a Foundation", seem appropriate in this setting: "Fear not, I am with Thee; O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee; and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."

But even that hymn does not do justice to this story. The people in our text just do not deserve anything, certainly not a financial windfall. Yet, that is essentially what happens. The people didn't believe God can do it, so what did God do? He provided for their needs and then some.

This is the God of the Bible, full of love and mercy and grace. He does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he showers us with grace. Remember what Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). God is calling!

Over my last few devotionals I am going to be pulling from student publications that I wrote for the seminary during the winter term earlier this year. Some bits have been changed or updated, but otherwise you're reading what the body of Calvin Seminary read a few months ago.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galations 2:20)

I am not religious. It seems like a strange statement for a Christian to say perhaps, but I realized long ago that there are key differences between Christianity and religion. Religion is a set of observances, statutes, ways that must be followed in order to obtain new life either in this life or in the next (whatever that means according to one's personal beliefs). Religion involves adherence to a personal code of ethics and morals in order to appease God (or a god), often hoping that you have done enough, prayed the right words, shared your faith with enough people, performed the right rituals in the right way. Religion can be subjective and it often involves the fear of not measuring up to God's standards in some way, shape or form and what the consequences are to the individual as a result. Christianity is different. Christianity is about a living, loving God who first reached out to us, not to force us into His presence, but to enfold us in it. God is altogether incomprehensible and yet still knowable. He draws us to Himself and calls us into an intimate, abiding relationship rooted in His Love. This is a distinct difference between religion and Christianity. Relationship in love.

If I were to ask you what your relationship with Jesus is like, how would you answer? "I pray" you may say, or "I meditate on the Word of God" or "I worship Him on Sundays." These are all really good and really important things and we need to be doing each one of them both individually and corporately. But I wonder if we can dig further into the meaning of relationship itself? When I looked up the definition of the word "relationship," Mirriam-Webster offered the word "kinship" and Google dictionary talked about a connection by blood. I love these looks at relationship when it comes to Christ. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ in this large family of believers through the blood of Christ.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Eph 2:13).

Relationship. Kin. Blood.

"So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God" (Rom 7:4).

Christianity is about belonging. Belonging to Christ so that we might bear fruit for God. Belonging to Christ isn't a feel-good pre-requisite for the good life in His company. When we belong to someone we become a part of them and they of us. So it is with Christ, we cannot grow or shrink back in belonging. We are the beloved of God, we are no more or less than that. And as His beloved, we are to bear fruit for God. We don't bear fruit in order to measure up to a standard or as a pre-requisite to entering into heaven, but because we love God and a tangible way to show our love for him is by bearing fruit, doing good works, building others up, taking care of the temple of our own body.

Christianity is not about adherence to the law. Jesus came to fulfill the law. Christianity is about a relationship of belonging with God who loved us so much that He took our place unto death, out of pure love. Jesus wasn't coerced, His Father didn't force Him to walk the road to Calvary, or talk Him into it, or reason with Him. The relationship of Jesus and His Father was so personal and so intimate that Jesus willingly stepped forward into suffering because he knew and set His eyes on the ultimate goal. Why? Because of His love for us. His beloved. Because He knew that it was the only way for intimacy like that which He has with His Father to be available to us too. Relationship in love.

"I haven't always been a Christian. I didn't go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity."

This quote by C.S. Lewis is stirring, timeless and full of truth. On the surface it sounds like a quote about happiness and comfort in life and faith, but take a look deeper and you will find relationship and love hidden beneath the words. You see, relationships aren't comfortable. They're not always happy...even the good ones. They're messy, topsy-turvy, loving one minute and despising the next some days. Relationships take time, take grit and take devotion to each other. Relationships rooted in love, even more so. It's easy to follow a religion, but less so to maintain a vibrant relationship with the living God, with Christ. God is not in the business of cushioning, coddling and entering us into the comfortable and the good places of life. If you want comfort, grab a seat in a recliner and lean back. Or grab hold of religion. Where the rules are all laid out for you and all you need to do is follow. No, God is in the business of loving, redeeming, purifying and regenerating us. Although God Himself never changes, He takes our lives and if we are willing, He will change, transform and conform us more and more into His own image. It's not always a comfortable place to be.

Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place" (Deuteronomy 1:29-31).

It used to be that on the first day of my work week, I needed to pick the texts for the following Sunday's sermons. In those moments the Bible seemed like a very big book. I did not enjoy that exercise. Some years ago, I learned that it was much simpler to prepare a series or to use the Common Lectionary. The same thing has been true with these Wilderness Wanderings. I had made no plans for post-vacation.

So, let's spend some time together the book of Deuteronomy. It's a series of sermons or lectures Moses gave to Israel before he died. His intention was to help God's people to finally live in the Promised Land. Hopefully, we are exiting the wilderness of COVID-19 and Deuteronomy might have some wisdom for us as we immerge into a new normal. Its not that we are going into the Promised Land, in fact, our road still seems quite uncertain.

Uncertainty tends to breed fear. Our text for today addresses this reality. A whole generation of Israelites have travelled in the wilderness. It's the only home they knew. Travelling the wilderness was their way of life. There was security in the familiar. Now they had to go fight enemies and settle down in cities.

Moses begins by reminding them of the last time Israel had stood at the doorstep of the promised land. Their parents had been afraid too. They could not overcome their fear. As Moses tells this story he is essentially saying, "Don't be like your parents, living in fear; trust the Lord."

What I find interesting is the way Moses encourages Israel to overcome her fear. We might think a really dazzling sermon on trust would do the trick, or maybe a dramatic children's story. But none of that for Moses.

Instead, he tells Israel to remember. Remember how God fought for them in Egypt, leaving Pharoah impotent to stop Israel's departure. Remember how God carried Israel through the desert like a parent carries a child.

This is the key to overcoming fear, to see God, to remember. The God who led them this far is going ahead of them into the promised land. He will settle them in green pastures and beside still waters. I think Jesus took up Moses' mantra when he told his disciples to consider the birds and the flowers and the grass. Look at what God does. Look how God cares for them. How much more will he not care for us?

Yes. The future is quite uncertain. There is plenty of reason to be afraid. We can look at all the obstacles. We can look at all the unknowns. But Moses and Jesus both encourage us to look to God and remember what he has done. He has been with his people since the beginning, there is no need to fear he will abandon us now.

I'm reminded of a quote I tucked away long ago, "I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath--these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely--these are my native air" (Dr. E. Stanley Jones, Transformed by Thorns).

When he had finished speaking, [Jesus] said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." (Luke 5:4)

"Put out into deep water," Jesus instructed Peter. Jesus wants us to go deeper with Him. How can we go deeper with Jesus? I want to suggest a few ways today.

Go deep into the Word of God. This is the roadmap for life that God has given to us. Other Christian traditions put much less emphasis on Scripture than we do in the Reformed Church. I believe that emphasis on Scripture is something that we Reformed folks do well. We are all of us in many different seasons of life and so digging into the Word may look different for each one of us. But it is our lifeline. When you are in despair or when you are bursting with joy, turn to the Word of God, when you are starting your day and when you are ending it turn to the Word of God. "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

It is not only to be read after meals or as a part of a devotional, but the Word of God is meant to be chewed on, savoured, swallowed, and digested until it becomes a part of who we are. Jesus, the Word of God wants to speak to us through the written Word. When we read the Bible we are getting a glimpse into the very heart of God. His faithfulness, love, patience, kindness for His beloved children.

Get personal with God. When Jesus asked Peter to push the boat out a little way from shore so that He could preach from it without being crushed by the crowds, that was impersonal. But when Jesus instructed Peter to "put out into deep water," suddenly the impersonal became personal. Jesus wanted Peter to become bodily involved. God is a personal God. He doesn't just sit back waiting for us to make the first move, like in a game of chess. He pursues us, nudges us, instructs us, and personally invites us to partner with Him in His work in the Church and in the world.

Pray. Prayer is not just an act of thanks or petition. Prayer is a relationship between us and our God. When Jesus died, the curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn in two, and Jesus opened the way for us to come directly to God through Him. How marvelous! But we often still treat God like a vending machine in prayer. We consider prayer our duty, our obligation, a need. But Jesus went often to solitary places to pray. It was a time for Him to commune with His Father, to recharge so He could continue to minister to the many crowds that pressed for His attention every day. Prayer was how Jesus filled His depleted bucket. And He learned from His Father through prayer throughout His days as well. The Holy Spirit is with us always and everywhere. There is nowhere that we can go where He is not. That means that He is always available for us to talk to about anything and everything whether 2pm or 2am.

Listen for what God is saying to you. Jesus was preaching from the fishing boat when He instructed Peter to put out into deep water. Peter, the other fishermen and the crowds on shore were all listening to Him. Then Jesus finished speaking to the crowds and turned to Peter to speak to him directly. Jesus teaches us corporately and individually. In this passage He speaks to Peter one on one. Is there a thought, attitude, situation or circumstance that the Holy Spirit has been impressing on your heart lately?

Obey what God says. It's not always easy to know what the Holy Spirit is speaking to our hearts, but we can discern a thought, attitude or action by turning to the Bible. It has instructions for the way that God wants us to live. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and instruction in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16) Are you listening to what God is saying to you, and what are you doing about it? Jesus wants us to seek His heart, to do it daily.

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing" (Isaiah 40:26)

Its good to be back. I'm one of the co-pastors at Immanuel church here in Hamilton, ON. My colleague, Pastor Anthony has been away for some time on Sabbatical. You should begin hearing his melodic tones on these airwaves next week. For those of you reading these words, his will appear here. Thanks again to Mr. Rick Verkerk for filling in for me while I was on vacation and to Jennifer Heidinga who continues to fill in for Pastor Anthony admirably.

We often hope that vacation provides time for things like decompression, relaxation, reflection, or recharging, those kinds of things. It was for me. But it came in an odd way. We were not in hiding, we watched some of the Olympics and kept up with the happenings in the world a bit. Reflecting on that, I couldn't help thinking, "the world is an ugly place." I don't think I need to explain that or elaborate, it seems self-evident.

But sitting by the lake, doing a little fishing (don't get excited, you fishing folk, those fish I was after weren't biting), driving through parts of Quebec and Ontario, I couldn't help noticing that the world is also a beautiful place. So, our text for today came to mind, "Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

Others as well, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge" (Psalm 19:1-2). And "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…" (Romans 1:20).

This has always been the key for Christians: God's invisible qualities are visible in creation. The things he created and has sustained throughout the millennium reflect his glory. As his glory shines through, we see beauty. It was good to see. I hope many of you will see beauty as God's glory shines through.

While perceiving this beauty and recognizing that it is still true that this world is an ugly place, I remembered one of my favourite literary quotes, "There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for" (J.R.R. Tolkien The Two Towers). For you movie buffs, it made it into the movies in arguably one of top scenes of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. (Or maybe it was only in the extended version).

And so, I return from vacation ready to continue with the 'good fight' as the Apostle Paul named it. But how does one fight in this complex and ugly world tinged with beauty? Jesus' words to his disciples put it simply, "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26-28).

It seems that our natural human desire is to do great deeds, things that will make it into the history books. Yet, our Lord, the one we serve, calls us to help the least of the world, and not to display our deeds before others. In the small acts of kindness and love, the glory of the Lord will also shine forth.

Maybe nobody will notice. But our Lord does, and that is all that matters.

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip. (John 1:43-46)

In today's passage we see Jesus calling Philip. Just as Andrew went to find Peter, Philip found Nathanael to invite him to also come and see. The invitation was too good to keep to himself. But Nathanael is unsure. Sarcastic even. What good could possibly come from Nazareth?

Nazareth was southwest of the Sea of Galilee, a very small community which probably had less than 500 people during Jesus' lifetime. It was not located near any major city centres and so it was not somewhere that Nathanael thought was of any importance. Calling someone a "Nazarene" may have been today's equivalent of calling someone a "hillbilly" or some such word. How then could the Messiah, the Saviour of the world come from such a back water town?

How do you perceive Jesus? As your healer, your Redeemer, your Lord, your Saviour? As your friend? Or do you feel like He has let you down, that He's distant, that He's difficult to talk to in prayer? Jesus isn't who we expect Him to be. We see that again and again in Scripture. The Pharisees expect Him to be one thing, the disciples another and the crowds yet another. Yet Jesus never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He remains true to His own nature so we can be assured therefore that we can trust in Him.

Philip doesn't argue with Nathanael's skepticism. He doesn't need to. He simply invites him along. "Come and see." Philip wanted Nathanael to come and experience Jesus for himself. Philip knows that talking about Jesus is nothing like meeting Him in person. Philip's invitation also echoes the one that Jesus gave to Andrew and John in verse 39 when Andrew and John asked where He was staying. "Come and see."

It's an invitation to us too. Jesus promises not to turn away those who earnestly seek Him. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matt 7:7-8).

It's okay to doubt and it's okay to have questions, but God wants us to bring them to Him in prayer. Even in our incredulity and doubt we are loved by Him. We can bring all of our frustrations to Him with confidence because "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). What a wonderful God we have!

"This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." Exodus 3:15b

As he hung on a cross in his last moments of life, the criminal knew that the man beside him was Jesus and had been unjustly crucified. In his pain and anguish, he didn't demand Jesus save his human life like the other criminal. He knew he was guilty and deserved death. With much humility, he asked Jesus to simply remember him (Luke 23:42). What a great God story! Did he have any idea this would become a storyline for centuries to come?

Do any of us have any idea how telling our God stories will impact the world? Of course not, we have no idea. Neither did the criminal. And that is the beauty of telling God's story. We have no idea where it is going to go or what it is going to accomplish.

The lady at my Church didn't think that years later many would be reading about her God story. Yet the reach of God stories through us has no boundaries. Each story is a page in a bigger storybook that will used in a perfect way by God to glorify his name. And the book is not limited in size! Every story that shows how awesome God is has purpose. Whether it is told to your children, spouse, extended family, friends, Church members, fellow workers, neighbours or strangers – all are an opportunity to tell about God's grace, mercy, love, faithfulness and majesty.

Whether it's a one-liner or a longer account of how God has worked in your life, it is relevant. Your words today may be the seeds sown, nurtured by Him and harvested by another in the future. Not sure how to start? Look for opportunities to tell your God story and 'lip' it.

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:40-42

When Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, Scripture says that Jesus looked at Simon before He spoke to him. He didn't just look at Simon. Jesus looked inside Simon. He saw him. Just as God saw Hagar in the desert, as she said to the Lord "You are the God who sees me," (Genesis 16:13), Jesus saw Simon where he was and where he was not yet. He saw what Simon could not yet see in himself. Jesus saw the greatness inside of him.

In several places in the Bible we see God renaming people. Abram God named Abraham, Jacob God named Israel, Saul, God named Paul to name a few. When God renamed someone in the Bible it was because He wanted to give them a new identity or a new mission. Or they had an encounter with God and God wanted the individual to be branded by that experience or encounter. God no longer wanted them to identify with their old identity or mission or experience.

If you look at the personality of Simon throughout the Gospels you can learn some things about him. He was a very emotional, type A personality. One moment he's excited and ready to conquer the world, full of ambition, and the next day he's down in the dumps. He was incredibly subjective, he lacked objectivity, he's irrational at times, he was an exaggerator, and not the most dependable guy overall.

Jesus looks beyond that and sees greatness and potential in Simon. And so, Jesus gives Simon a new name, Peter, which literally means big rock or big boulder. In the first century big strong rocks were used as the foundation for building projects. Large rocks were used because you could depend on them to hold up the entire rest of the building. Jesus is calling this reality out of Simon. Jesus tells him, you are a big rock, you are dependable, you are stable. "And I say to you, you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." (Matt 16:18). Jesus wasn't looking at the man that stood in front of him. He was looking beyond that to see the greatness and the potential inside of Simon.

Jesus makes a fierce commitment to Peter. Jesus gives Simon a new identity as Peter, the large rock. From this new identity and new name, Jesus mentors Peter and the other disciples and Peter becomes the first leader of the church after Jesus ascends to heaven. He writes portions of the Bible, and he follows after Jesus to the point of martyrdom. A far cry from the inconsistent and undependable disciple that we read about throughout the Gospels.

Jesus is fiercely committed to you too. He has confidence in you. Jesus believes in you. Jesus sees greatness in you. He loves you in spite of your inconsistencies and failures. Jesus doesn't look at your exterior. At the selfishness, inconsistencies, depravity. He looks beyond exterior masks and facades because he knows what you can become. Jesus knows what gifts and talents and passions He has placed within you, and he loves you with a fierce love. Fierce enough to stay by your side, no matter where the tides may turn to teach and to guide you towards your true identity in Him.