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- Apr 25, 2006
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Influence
'...But who do you say I am?' Matthew 16:15
You're too tall, you're too small; you're too fat, you're too thin; you're too normal, you're too weird; you're too confident, you're too shy. People blurt out their opinions left, right and centre and if we're not careful, we can allow them to damage us - chewing us up, spitting us out, and leaving us in an insecure heap on the floor.
People do the same with Jesus - voicing their opinions: He's not real, he's not God, he's not important, he doesn't matter, he's boring, he's mad, he's a conman, he's dead. If we're not careful we can allow them to nudge us into unbelief too; twisting our thoughts and words, hopes and experiences into an unrecognisable shape.
When Jesus was on earth people did the same, using their words to try and trick him; talked him down to try and discourage him; tried to make him look foolish to cause his followers to doubt him.
Jesus knows the damage that people's negative opinions can have on us if we allow them to grow and fester. This is why Jesus sat down and had a chat with his disciples about it at the time, teaching them not to allow the words of others to destroy them.
He asked them, 'Who do you say I am?' to teach them he was indeed the Son of God! Be confident in God, and know that He is bigger than any doubt and negativity that comes your way.
written by Bob Gass
'...But who do you say I am?' Matthew 16:15
You're too tall, you're too small; you're too fat, you're too thin; you're too normal, you're too weird; you're too confident, you're too shy. People blurt out their opinions left, right and centre and if we're not careful, we can allow them to damage us - chewing us up, spitting us out, and leaving us in an insecure heap on the floor.
People do the same with Jesus - voicing their opinions: He's not real, he's not God, he's not important, he doesn't matter, he's boring, he's mad, he's a conman, he's dead. If we're not careful we can allow them to nudge us into unbelief too; twisting our thoughts and words, hopes and experiences into an unrecognisable shape.
When Jesus was on earth people did the same, using their words to try and trick him; talked him down to try and discourage him; tried to make him look foolish to cause his followers to doubt him.
Jesus knows the damage that people's negative opinions can have on us if we allow them to grow and fester. This is why Jesus sat down and had a chat with his disciples about it at the time, teaching them not to allow the words of others to destroy them.
He asked them, 'Who do you say I am?' to teach them he was indeed the Son of God! Be confident in God, and know that He is bigger than any doubt and negativity that comes your way.
written by Bob Gass
