Matthew 16: 13-20, Romans 12:1-8   There are many different thoughts today on who Jesus was. Some say just a prophet or a good man who lived righteously or what we as Christians believe, along with Peter in Matthew 16, that he is the Messiah the Son of God. People of Jesus’ time thought he was John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. When Jesus asks Peter the disciple replies “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” To this response Jesus calls Peter blessed and tells how Peter is the rock on which he will build his church. The Catholic church patterns its leadership as priests like Peter. In Romans Paul talks about how the church built upon Peter the Rock has many different members, but not all have the same function. He goes on to list spiritual gifts ones that differ according to the grace given us. Each of us has been given a talent, ability, or calling that when exercised builds up the church. The gifts listed are prophecy, ministry, teaching, encouragement, g...

Matthew 15:10-20; Romans 11: 1-2, 29-32 The Pharisees are at it again elevating their rules above God’s. The one in question here is the ceremonial washing of hands before eating. The disciples who ate on the run didn’t go through this complex ritual of hand washing before eating. Today for health reasons we wash our hands before eating but this was a much more elaborate washing dictated by the Pharisaic law. So, Jesus tells the crowd that it is not what goes into the mouth but the evils that come out of it and the sins that comes out of the heart are the things that truly defile one – not omitting the ceremonial handwashing. He calls these leaders blind leading the blind. Their focus instead should be on the truly defiling activities such as evil intensions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. We have seen the false witness and slander of what the Pharisees do to Christ and eventually they will be behind Christ’s murder on the cross. They do the...

Matthew 14:22-33, Romans 10:5-13 Our Matthew account is the famous one of Jesus walking on the water. Peter asks to join him yet fear wins over faith and he begins to sink. Peter calls out to Jesus, and the Lord reaches out his hand and saves him. Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" The disciples fearing the storm are amazed when it calms down when Jesus arrives. Those in the boat worship him their faith confirmed as they say out loud, "Surely this is the son of God." These are the first humans to confess that Jesus is the son of God.   In Romans Paul tells how righteousness doesn't come from the law but by faith confessing that Jesus is Lord, believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead. This confession leads to righteousness and by confessing with your mouth, like the folks on the disciple's boat, will lead to salvation. There are storms of life that make us fearful. We have initial faith like Peter that Jesus will help ...

  Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7,15 Back in Genesis 28 we had the account of Jacob’s ladder. Today in chapter 32 we have Jacob wrestling with a “man” who he later declares to be God. Jacob is seen as the aggressor here since when the “man” asks him to let go Jacob refuses unless the “man” blesses him. This request shows that Jacob saw this to be no ordinary man. He is then being told that his name will be changed to Israel since he has struggled with God and with humans and has prevailed. Again, this is another hint that this man must be God. Yet the man will not tell him his name but does finally bless him. Then Jacob declares, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved - saved.” A reminder of this encounter will always be the limp he has been given being struck on the hip. Psalms 17 is a prayer for deliverance from persecution. David the author gives the account of how faithful he has been with no deceitful lips and no wickedness to be found in him. This shows th...

 Psalm 105:1-11, Romans 8:26-39 Psalms 105 is a call to worship worshipping God for the Lord’s mighty acts. It recounts Israel’s history from Abraham to the settlement in Canaan. The Psalmist shows great trust that the covenant God made to Abraham will come true. Though times can get rough the Psalmist says to seek the Lord and God’s strength and also to seek his presence continually. Romans 8 talks about the new covenant of love. God has done the ultimate of giving up God’s son to die on the cross in our place to bring salvation. This is shown as the ultimate gift of love. As Paul puts it, “If God is for us who can be against us.” Another gift God has given us is the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness. When we don’t know how to pray the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Also interceding for us is Jesus who knows first hand how it is to be human. The famous verse 28 tells about how despite present suffering, believers trust that God will bring ...