“When
Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who
do people say the Son of Man is? They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others
say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what
about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16).
In the
above verses when Jesus asked the disciples who people say he is; Peter gave
the right answer as it was revealed by the Father to him. It’s amazing that the same Peter rebuked
Jesus when he said that he was going to suffer, be killed and raised on the
third day. The bible says in verse 22
that Peter called him aside and began to rebuke him. Our Lord Jesus recognised who was speaking
and he rebuked Satan because he said that He was seeing things from a human
point of view, not from God’s. If we do
not see things from God’s point of view, we will miss His plan or purpose for
our lives.
We also
have to make sure that we listen to advice or opinion that are line with God’s point
of view. In verse 24 of the same chapter,
Jesus then went to say that if any man wants to be my disciple or follower, he
should deny himself or turn from his selfish ways, take up their cross and
follow him. Following Jesus means not
doing your own thing, you can’t be a follower of Christ and be selfish. It means giving up what you think is right
and walking with God says it’s right. It
doesn’t mean that we are robots; it means that we willingly follow his ways and
do what He asks us to do.
The
benefit of following Christ is not only in this life but in the life to
come. This is because if you hang onto
to your life, you will lose it but if you give up your life for his name sake,
you will save it (verse 25).
I leave
you with this verse in Matthew 16:26
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole
world and lose your own soul? Is
anything worth more than your soul?”
I pray
that you will truly be a follower of Jesus Christ.
God’s
servant,
Dupe
