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Matthew 15-16


Enthusiastic. Brash. Outspoken. Impulsive. 


If I gave you these words and asked you to match them with one of the disciples, I’m betting that Peter would be the first to come to your mind. At the conclusion of today’s reading, we read the account of when Simon Peter is first to declare Jesus as “Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Right after this Jesus replies, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” (v 16:18) It always boggles my mind that Jesus bestowed this blessing and daunting task to Peter. This is the man who had his share of weaknesses, yet pressed on and became an incredible leader in the early Church, leading multitudes of others to also follow Christ. 
If we look back to the first encounter between Jesus and Simon Peter, Jesus tells him, “Come, follow me.” (Mark 1:17)  In Jesus’ last words to Peter, he also says, “You must follow me.” (John 21:22) Between these two exchanges, Peter often stumbled…yet he always followed. The Lord chose this flawed fisherman, changed him by his love, and used him in mighty ways, including to help build the early church. We too are fallible, ordinary, and may sometimes think, “why would God want to use me? I fail ALL the time!” Each of us, like Peter, must be willing to proclaim Jesus as our Lord, walk in faith, and though we may stumble, be willing to press on and continue following Him daily. Who knows in what unexpected ways He may use you?


~Rachel Craig

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