Good morning, dear ones.
Rain is heard on the roof again. That is predicted to be the norm for many days to come. At least it should be translated as snow at higher elevations. Yet I better not hold my breath in view of how warm some of the temperatures are expected to be.
I doubt that I’ll be able to stay dry when I go out for my old man jog. At least I shouldn’t melt.
There are some variables in my planning for the day. But I think that checking out some available oak trees and some sign work will be front and center.
Hope you have a day. Ray.
Jesus had just put this pointed question to His disciples: “Who do you say I am?” (v. 15). I happen to regard that as the very most important question in the universe—because everything else in a person’s life and destiny hinges on the answer.
The record shows Peter as the only one volunteering to speak up with an answer. “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God!” (v. 16) That answer was spot on—winning an A+ from Jesus. So, in Jesus’ response to Peter’s answer, was Peter really being elevated, as some seem to think, to some kind of exclusive personal position as something like “Pope”? In my judgment, that’s absurd!—and represents very unsound interpretation. The Passion Translation (which I’m choosing to use here) cites Jesus as saying to Peter, “I give you the name Peter, a stone. And this truth of who I am will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church—my legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!” (v. 18)
The incredible good news of the Biblical Gospel is this—that everyone who is able to honestly and sincerely duplicate Peter’s answer is able to get in on the same blessing of favor and privilege that Jesus pronounced over Peter. However, to be sure, that proper answer cannot be arrived at by purely intellectual means—like science, historical research, or theological persuasion. There is an essential spiritual/metaphysical component. I believe that essential component is activated by means of a HEART AFTER GOD, enabling one to receive and be illuminated by the Spirit of God. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children” (Romans 8:16, NIV). “The man without the Spirit (and without a HEART AFTER GOD) does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15, NIV). “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44-45, NIV).