JESUS KNOWS WHAT WE SHALL BE
JOHN 1:40-42
JOHN 1:40-42 NKJ
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).
The year 2022 is my second year of doing Bible 365 Devotionals. Here is my working premise for this year. I will approach each Bible passage with a perspective untouched by last years' writings. God's word is alive and fresh, and each time we read, we can see something new or something familiar in a new light. That's the way I will approach this year, and I encourage you to approach God's word the same way. Lord, what are You saying to me now. Invariably I will land on some of the same passages that I wrote about last year. That is not a function of me being lazy but rather something God wants repeated. When it comes to the Bible, we didn't "get it" because we heard it once. This is a spiritual book, and there will always be more to see and understand. So, let's dive into the year with new expectations. I believe God will reveal some wonderful things to us.
In today's passage, Andrew found his brother Peter and brought him to Jesus. Peter's first encounter was quite profound. Jesus told him who he was but then revealed what he would be.
Cephas means a stone. Some have thought that the church would be built on Peter, "upon this rock I will build My church." But the rock Jesus spoke of was the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter or Cephas was a small stone in the big rock of the church. (Matthew 16:16-18)
But I like the fact that Jesus knew what Peter would be. To start with, Peter did not look as solid as a rock. He was impulsive and selfish, and proud. But that's not how he wound up. He turned out to be a strong representative of the Lord who was an excellent leader of the early church. Peter also wrote two letters of the New Testament and had some great insight into Christ-like character. Jesus did not focus on what Peter was but what he would be.
APPLICATION:
Peter's example gives us all hope. Hope that our potential in Christ outweighs our current condition. The Lord's view of us is formed by what He has done for us and in us by the new birth. He knows the magnitude of that work. He also knows the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
As we read His word and fellowship with Him in our prayer and quiet times, we will get clearer and clearer glimpses of what we shall be. And it's good.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, please reveal more of what I shall be, my potential in Christ. I know there is more I can walk in.