Matthew 16:15-16
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
I'm willing to bet that you've probably been in a situation where you didn't share your true feelings or thoughts in a conversation. It might be be because you didn't want to offend or step on the toes of someone else in the party. It might be because you simply were not confident in your opinion or knowledge of the subject. Maybe you thought your answer would cause friction among the group, so you just went along with popular opinion. Maybe you've even flat out lied about your stance on something. I'll be the first to admit that I've done every one of these and more. Harken back to when you were a student in school and the teacher called on you to give an answer or opinion on a subject. You probably froze in fear. (as you read this you're palms may be sweating or heart might have skipped a beat as you go back in your memory!) And most likely you had the correct answer, but you were scared to give it in the event it was wrong and ridicule set in among the group. Even more, you might have had something truly valuable to add to the conversation that would help others, but out of fear, you held back. A lost opportunity indeed.
Let's jump back 2000 years. Jesus, the teacher, asks his pupils what public opinion is about him. Then he asks the students directly, "who do YOU say that I am?" Peter courageously answers, "you are the Christ." I wonder if others knew the answer but were afraid to say. I wonder if Peter blurted out the answer or if there was a long pause. Scripture doesn't tell us, but Jesus was wondering if the 'boys in his band' truly believed in what he was preaching, or if they would be swayed by public opinion. Peter wasn't swayed. He said what was on his heart. God is Truth, Jesus is Truth. Peter proclaimed Truth.
Today more than any other time in our history of the world, we are bombarded by public opinion. Much of it is false, lies, distortions of truth or half-truth's. Pray today for the courage to stand for truth in your everyday dealings with others. Ask for a spirit of discernment on your heart to guide you in your decisions so that you can proclaim Truth. (FYI, that is part of the mission of Spirit FM.)
