DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: MAY 18 HOW TO MAKE GOD CHANGE YOUR NAME (3) SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 16: 13 – 20
Yesterday’s devotional revealed to us, two main things Jacob did for God to change his name from Jacob, meaning “Supplanter” to Israel meaning “one who struggled with God and man and prevail. Jacob’s wrestling with the Angel of God in Bethel proved him as one who has a determined heart to achieve what he wanted. When the Angel of God saw how Jacob relented not in the wrestling, He asked Jacob to release Him to go. Jacob saw this as an opportunity. Jacob told the Angel of God to bless him if He wants to be released. The second thing Jacob did for his change of name is his obedient to God’s instruction like Abraham. God told Jacob to go back to Bethel to offer Him sacrifice. Jacob obeyed, went further to consecrate his family members before going. He made of them all to destroy the armlets, earrings, necklaces etc., which were dedicated to the gods and goddesses of Paddan Aram.
Today’s devotional is discussing what made Jesus to change the name of Apostle Peter. Peter had a family name “Simon” before Jesus called him into the Apostleship. The opportunity to change Peter’s name came to Peter while they were on their way to Caesarea Philippi. Jesus demanded from the Apostles to tell Him what they heard people say He is. Many talked of people referring to Him as Elijah, Moses or one of the prophets. Throwing the question to the Apostles showed none of them knew their Master except Peter. Peter told Jesus: “Thou art the Messiah and the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16: 16). Jesus was very pleased at this and acknowledged that it was God who revealed this secret to Peter. Thereafter, Jesus told Peter that “Thou art Peter…” (Matt. 16: 18);* meaning “you are a stone (petro). This change of name placed Peter as the foundation personality on whom the Church will be built upon.
The lesson in this devotional is that; knowing the accurate or having Spiritual understanding of Jesus as a Messiah and a Son of the Living God makes Jesus and God to change someone’s name. Like the other Apostles, we still have numerous people going about as Christians but without the deep Spiritual Knowledge of who Jesus Christ really is. Many Christians still know Jesus in the “flesh and blood” and not as a Messiah of the world as well as a Son of the Living God”. There are lots of mysteries and gifts awaiting us stored in heaven till we will fully know Jesus as a Messiah and a Son of the Living God. Nathanael addressed Jesus as the Son of the Living God” and got blessing of going to see the heaven open and Angles of God will be ascending and descending on the Son of Man (John 1: 60 – 61). My beloveth, we in this age must seek to know Jesus Christ for Who He is truly is. If this is done, Jesus will commission us again, and His Power, Signs and Wonders be vividly seen in our ministries on the earth.
PRAYER:
BLESSED SON OF GOD, grant me grace from on high today to know you as my Messiah and the Son of the Living God. I want to know you more through the revelation of the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh and blood.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
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