Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

 13 Jesus came into the country of Caesarea Philippi. He asked His followers, "Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 They said, "Some say You are John the Baptist and some say Elijah and others say Jeremiah or one of the early preachers."

 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

 17 Jesus said to him, "Simon, son of Jonah, you are happy because you did not learn this from man. My Father in heaven has shown you this.

 18 "And I tell you that you are Peter. On this rock I will build My church. The powers of hell will not be able to have power over My church. 19 I will give you the keys of the holy nation of heaven. Whatever you do not allow on earth will not have been allowed in heaven. Whatever you allow on earth will have been allowed in heaven."

Meditation: How firm is your faith and trust in Jesus Christ? At an opportune time Jesus tested his disciples with a crucial question: Who do men say that I am and who do you say that I am? Jesus was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Peter, always quick to respond, exclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter; but only God. Jesus then confered on Peter authority to govern the church that Jesus would build, a church that no powers could overcome. Jesus played on Peter's name which is the same word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek. To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments. The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon."  Through Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to recognize Jesus as the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God.

The New Testament describes the church, the people of God, as a spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual stones. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: Who do you say that I am?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are my Lord and my Savior who has set me free from sin and deception. Make my faith strong like Peter's and give me boldness to speak of you to others that they may come to know you as Lord and Savior."

Psalm34:1-9

 1 I will honor the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
 2 My soul will be proud to tell about the Lord. Let those who suffer hear it and be filled with joy.
 3 Give great honor to the Lord with me. Let us praise His name together.
 4 I looked for the Lord, and He answered me. And He took away all my fears.
 5 They looked to Him and their faces shined with joy. Their faces will never be ashamed.
 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him. And He saved him out of all his troubles.
 7 The angel of the Lord stays close around those who fear Him, and He takes them out of trouble.

 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him!
 9 O fear the Lord, all you who belong to Him. For those who fear Him never want for anything.