Truth in Love

This mission of this blog is to help you in your search for truth about Jesus Christ. This blog will begin sifting through challenging topics and presenting ideas as to how to interoperate and apply the truths of the Bible to our daily lives. Not all that Jesus speaks over us is comfortable, yet all that which he says is for our good.

The Rock

My dialog with the Spirit

Oh how I feel mightily alone and small in the midst of the world. I most often feel I am made to be a foundation on which others catch themselves that they might find you and build a foundation anew on “The Rock”. Yet, when my foundation sinks I feel alone and unworthy.

Yet, that I may have hope, you say

"and the rain fell, and the floods came, 
and the winds blew and beat on that house,
but it did not fall" - Reference 1

to those who built their house on the rock of Jesus.

But, I am dismayed. Am I not built on the rock?

The Lord nudged. “Tell me who Peter is”

Peter? His name means Rock and you told him while you still walked this earth

"you are Peter, 
and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it." - Reference 2

The Lord continued “But, Peter was dismayed himself, look when I called him to walk on the water.

"Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water
and came to [you].
But when he saw the wind,
he was afraid,
and beginning to sink he cried out,
-- Lord, save me --
[you] immediately reached out [your] hand
and took hold of him" - Reference 3

You are human Ben, and I understand you won’t always be secured on the rock. If you are honest with me, and cry for help, I will set you firmly up on the rock again and you will continue to prevail against the gates of hell.

Each time you call out in honesty when the winds and floods prevail, it is as if I press your houses pilots deeper, closer to bedrock.

ESV as source

Reference 1

Matthew 7:24–27

Build Your House on the Rock

[24] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (ESV)

Reference 2

Matthew 16:13–18

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

[13] Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” [14] And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” [15] He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” [16] Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)

Reference 3

Matthew 14:28–33

Jesus Walks on the Water

[28] And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” [29] He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” [31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (ESV)

To the readers:
If your life tumultuous, scary, hard to navigate, or out of control. I’ll urge you to turn towards learning what it means to have your foundation built on Jesus. Even though he might have called Peter the rock in which he was going to build his church, Peter himself doubted in many places through the new testament and was not perfect with where his foundation was built.

Why then was Peter recorded to be the foundation of the church of Jesus? I believe it is because that even though he is recorded as the one who doubts

  • When Jesus calls him to walk on water – Mathew 14:28-31
  • Peter rebukes Jesus for saying he must die and be raised – 16:22
  • Jesus foretells Peters Denial – Mathew 26:33
  • I’m sure several more exist.

Yet, even though he is the one who doubts. Peter is also the first one (to the best of my knowledge anyways) who believes and admits that Jesus is the “Christ, the Son of the living God.”- Mathew 16:16-17. Such that DESPITE the doubts, Peter TRUSTS in the Lord.

Think of how firm you must be in your beliefs that you stand against the tempest in your heart and boldly believe it’s going to be alright because the promise of the gospel message.

Firm enough to be the image of having your faith firmly on Jesus as a house built firmly on a rock.

The gospel essentially states that You are so Loved by God, that He sent Jesus to die as a payment for a debt of sin we could Never pay ourselves. But, God (Jesus), so yearns to be our friend in relationship with us that he was willing to pay for our sins such that he could have that relation with us in his Spirit while we are in earth, and with him in heaven when our time comes.

If you feel as though life tosses you around like a kite in the wind, cry out to God and do what you can be as honest with him and yourself as possible to be willing for him to meet you where you are at. Even if you don’t or can’t believe in him right now. He is still willing to meet you.

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