TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7:1-10
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TODAY IN THE WORD
John Tyler became President of the U.S. in 1841 after the death in office of Benjamin Harrison. At Tyler's first cabinet meeting, the members made it clear that they were used to voting on every decision with the former President, with everyone having one vote.

But Tyler had his own message to deliver. The counsel and cooperation of his cabinet was welcome, but as President he would be responsible for his administration. Resignations would be expected from any cabinet member who could not accept these conditions.

The men in John Tyler's cabinet, powerful people in their own right, were made to understand how authority would work in his administration. The centurion at Capernaum also understood how authority worked. He was a man of authority himself, but he also recognized when he was under a higher authority.

Even before his extraordinary faith, displayed in today's Scripture reading, this Roman officer had proved himself obedient to the God of Israel. The Jewish officials who came to Jesus on behalf of his dying servant gave a good testimony of his sensitivity to the things and the people of God (v. 5). He loved the Jewish people, which is noteworthy given the hostility that existed between the Jews and their Roman masters.

But it was this man's humility, and especially his faith, that earn him a place in our unsung hero gallery. He showed tremendous humility by confessing his unworthiness to have Jesus in his house. Only a person who sees himself as he really is could have responded in this fashion.

If the centurion had ended his message there, it would have been worth noting. But his faith in Jesus' authority and power is even more amazing. The synagogue official whose boy was sick (see June 15) begged Jesus to come with him, although Jesus healed the boy at a distance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.Wouldn't it be great to be known as the ""help-bringer?""This fascinating story suggests an obvious question: is there anything about our faith that would amaze the Lord?

The centurion was ready to take Jesus completely at His word, without visible proof that He would do what He said. Our circumstances are very different today, but we too can take Jesus completely at His Word.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 16:1-2, 6, 12
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Of all the people who influenced Dwight L. Moody during the early years of his ministry in Chicago, none was more powerfully used by God than a woman known as ""Auntie"" Sarah Cooke. She was a tireless Christian worker, evangelist, and prayer warrior who attended the same church as Moody when he was a young man.

At a camp meeting in 1871, Auntie Cooke, feeling a deep burden for Moody, began praying that God would anoint him with greater spiritual power. Her prayers were answered just after the Great Chicago Fire of that year, and Moody himself looked back to that occasion as a key to the power in his ministry.

Phoebe and the other women mentioned in today's verses must have been just as tireless and effective as Auntie Cooke. In particular, Paul pays Phoebe a high spiritual compliment in his brief tribute. In fact, since the word ""servant"" here is the word often translated 'deacon,' many believe Phoebe held the office of deaconess in the church at Cenchrea.

Whether Paul was using this term in an official sense is open to debate, but this much is certain--he had great confidence in Phoebe. She was the emissary delivering this Roman letter to the believers there, so Paul commended her to them as a servant of great worth.

Phoebe was not only worthy of the respect of the Roman church. She was worthy of any help they could give her in her capacity as Paul's representative.

There were also some women in the Roman church itself who deserved honor for their hard work. Today we are singling out four women: Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis. All are commended for their hard work helping people and the cause of Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.Wouldn't it be great to be known as the ""help-bringer?""No matter what the century, the church of Jesus Christ has always needed dedicated workers like these women.

As you read today's devotional, the faces and names of faithful servants of Christ in your church may have come to mind. These are the people who work very hard, often in the background, to support the work of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 31:1-13
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TODAY IN THE WORD
In a November, 1942, speech to the House of Commons, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to 'the soft underbelly of the Axis.' At that point in World War II, the alliance led by Nazi Germany seemed anything but soft. But Churchill seemed to perceive the dark side of Hitler's regime: the German dictator's lack of character, his moral corruption, his insecurity and racially based fears. Churchill was predicting that eventually those weaknesses would bring down the Nazi empire, and he proved to be right.

Like that of the Nazis, Saul's kingdom had a soft underbelly. It was made up of his self-will, spiritual weakness, and lack of obedience to God. And the Scripture records the eventual collapse of Saul's kingdom in sad and gruesome detail.

But even amid the disgrace and dishonor of Saul's final days, a group of honorable men in Jabesh Gilead bravely did the right thing. In this closing chapter of 1 Samuel, we read of their heroism as they honored God's king even in his humiliating defeat.

It was the custom of ancient armies to humiliate their foes even in death. That is why the Philistines displayed the dead bodies of Saul and his sons after defeating them on Mount Gilboa. When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of this, they knew something had to be done. They could not bear the thought of their pagan enemies shaming their king and their God.

So the ""valiant men"" of Jabesh, east of the Jordan River, undertook a forced march to recover and dispose of the bodies. This act of kindness and heroism was prompted by the events of 1 Samuel 11, which describes how Saul delivered Jabesh Gilead from a horrible fate at the hands of the Ammonites.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.Wouldn't it be great to be known as the ""help-bringer?""These days a story about honor seems old-fashioned.

But the fact that honor has fallen on hard times in our culture changes nothing for us as God's people. Honor includes doing the right thing no matter what and guarding God's holy name and reputation by the way we act.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 5:21-34
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TODAY IN THE WORD
The early church was so moved by the account of the woman in Mark 5 that they felt she deserved an identity. So they called her ""Veronica,"" and said she was from the city of Caesarea Philippi. Around 320 A.D. the early church father Eusebius visited Caesarea and reported that he saw two bronze figures said to have been fashioned by the woman in gratitude for her healing. One figure was of a woman kneeling in supplication. The other was of Jesus, reaching out a hand to help her.

Of course, none of this church tradition is verified in Scripture. As far as the Gospels are concerned, 'Veronica' was an anonymous Israelite woman. But the early church's attempt to honor her suggests that she too belongs in our gallery of unsung biblical heroines.

She had certainly suffered for a long time and was actually getting worse (v. 26). No wonder she was so desperate to make contact with Jesus.

Several times this month we have read about Jesus healing people from a distance with only a word. But today's story may be the most unusual healing in the Gospels. Somehow this woman knew that if she could just touch Jesus, she would be healed. Given the embarrassing nature of her illness, her reluctance to be found out is understandable. But her desperation and her faith that Jesus could help drove her through the crowd to touch His clothing.

The woman's faith was instantly rewarded--a wonderful contrast of the power of God and the inability of human beings to do anything for her. But why did Jesus insist on seeking her out, especially since as God He knew exactly who she was and what had happened?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.This story is a powerful reminder that God can do great things with us when we are desperate enough to let nothing come between us and Him.

Is there an area in your life where you are ready to say, ""Lord, things can't continue this way any longer""? If so, you may be a candidate for a great work of God! He loves to hear His children confess their need of Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 9:14-27
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TODAY IN THE WORD
It must be a shock for an eaglet when the day comes that the mother eagle decides it is time for her offspring to learn to fly. Whereas the baby bird has been fed and protected, now the mother eagle unceremoniously pushes the eaglet out of the high nest. But instead of letting the young eagle crash, the mother swoops down and gently guides her offspring until the eaglet learns to fly on its own.

The father in today's story must have felt like a young eaglet pushed far out of its comfort zone. He was desperate to find help for his demon-afflicted son, yet it seemed that his prayers and hopes were going to crash to the ground. While Jesus was on the mountain being transfigured with Peter, James, and John, the remainder of the disciples had become embroiled in an argument over the boy's condition.

There was no doubt about the need of this boy for healing. The father later told Jesus that the demon had been tormenting his son since he was very young. The cruelty of his affliction was evident from the father's testimony that the demon had often tried to kill the son.

This father was right to bring his son to Jesus. But he allowed his desperation to reveal a faulty faith when he said to Jesus, ""If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us"" (v. 22).

Jesus responded immediately to the man's uncertainty. The Savior had already expressed His disappointment at the unbelief present in His disciples' failed attempts to cast out the evil spirit. Now He was faced with a direct statement of unbelief on the part of this father.

So why is this man included in our study of unsung Bible heroes? Because of the refreshing honesty and sincerity of his cry when Jesus challenged him. We can imagine the emotion with which he responded, ""I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"" (v. 24).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.Most of us would be embarrassed if we had to admit publicly to a lack of faith or some other spiritual deficiency.

Public confession isn't always the price required for anyone to be honest with God. But even if it's in the privacy of our room, we need to be honest before the Lord if we would expect His blessing. Confession of sin is always a good place to start.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 8:1-3
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Christian author J. Allan Petersen was once flying out of Brazil when the plane developed severe engine trouble. When the flight attendant told them to prepare for the impact of the crash, the seriousness of the situation hit Petersen and the other passengers. Petersen recalls that as he drew up his knees and buried his head in his lap, he thanked God for the life he had known and prayed for his wife and family. Surviving the landing with some bruises, he was gratefully reunited with his family.

Like Petersen, Mary Magdalene must have felt that she had been given back her life when Jesus healed her from multiple demon possession. We don't know specifically about the other women on Jesus' ""support team,"" but the text indicates that He had done something special for each of them.

These and the many other women who helped to support Jesus and the disciples qualify as heroines in the biblical story. It was common for itinerant leaders in the pagan culture of that day to solicit support from wealthy women. But this was entirely different. There is no record that Jesus asked for their material support. The women felt instead that they owed Him a great debt of love for what He had done for them. Providing for the material needs of Jesus and the Twelve was a natural way for them to show their gratitude.

The devotion of Mary Magdalene during the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is well documented. But it's easy to overlook Luke's note that Joanna was also with Mary at the tomb and heard the angel's announcement. Joanna was one of those privileged to tell the disciples about the resurrection (Luke 24:10).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.The New Testament consistently teaches that giving is simply the overflow of a heart in love with Jesus.

That's why giving is supposed to make you feel good, not bad (2 Cor. 9:7). It's meant to be a response of gratitude for what God has freely given you: every possible blessing both in this life and the next!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:35-46
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Most people have heard of the exploits of Sir Isaac Newton, who introduced the law of gravity and revolutionized the study of astronomy.

But according to science historians, if it weren't for Edmund Halley, the world may never have heard of Isaac Newton. Halley challenged Newton to think through his original theories and corrected his mathematical errors. Halley also coaxed Newton to write his great work, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy; and it was Halley who supervised and financed its publication even though Newton was wealthier.

If Edmund Halley had been one of the Twelve, he probably would have been like Andrew or Philip. These two men were definitely on the ""second tier"" of disciples, behind the ""inner circle"" of Peter, James and John. But they were content to serve the Lord where they were, and He used them effectively.

In verses 35-40, Andrew's spiritually sensitive heart shows through. He was already a disciple of John the Baptist, meaning that he had accepted John's message of repentance and preparation for the Messiah. It's not surprising that Andrew immediately followed Jesus after John the Baptist identified Him.

Andrew is best known for the first thing he did, and rightly so. He brought his brother Peter to Jesus. But Andrew was also the disciple who brought the boy with his lunch to Jesus (John 6:8-9), and in John 12:20-22 he teamed up with Philip to bring ""some Greeks"" to Jesus.

Philip was a ""bringer"" too. He was sought out personally by Jesus and couldn't wait to tell Nathanael about his great discovery. It's interesting that when Jesus and the disciples were faced with the hungry crowd, Jesus asked Philip to take care of their needs (John 6:5-7). Jesus did this to test Philip's faith, an indication of the Savior's interest in this man from Bethsaida.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When God decides to bless His people for their obedience, no power on earth can hinder Him.Bringing people to Jesus is one form of unsung heroism for which any believer can qualify.

When was the last time you brought someone to Jesus? The example of Andrew and Philip reminds us that it is our job to bring people to Jesus, not to force them to believe in Him. The Holy Spirit is more than able to persuade the heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 12:41-44
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Poet and journalist David Everett, born in 1770, was a prolific writer whose works are largely forgotten today. But one brief line of Everett's poetry has become a well-known American aphorism--although it is doubtful if many people could name its author. In a poem Everett composed for a pupil of his in New Ipswich, Massachusetts, the poet concluded by writing: 'Tall oaks from little acorns grow.'

The widow of Mark 12 would likewise have been forgotten except for one brief moment of biblical fame. When she stepped up to the temple treasury that day, she had no way of knowing she would become an unsung Bible heroine. She simply wanted to express her deep love for God.

This woman understood that the object of her giving was God Himself, not anyone else. If she had been conscious of the dollar value her gift amounted to, she might have slipped away rather than be measured against the rich people who were putting in large sums.

But none of that mattered to this woman, and her reward was great. God was literally the one watching her sacrificial gift. Jesus was watching the people bring their gifts to the temple. When He saw this woman, He looked straight into her heart and was moved by her love for God and her complete trust in His provision.

As this was a teaching opportunity not to be missed, Jesus called the Twelve to Him and gave them a lesson in giving. The difference Jesus wanted the disciples, and us, to see is this: the others at the temple that day gave out of their surplus but the widow gave out of her deep poverty (see 2 Cor. 8:1-4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This story illustrates an interesting principle of biblical giving: what matters in giving is not how much we give, but how much we have left over after we give.

Consider today what one Bible teacher identifies as three levels of giving: 1. obedience giving, the regular, systematic giving of the tithe or tenth God expects; 2. faith giving, giving what God prompts when we can't figure out how He will supply; and 3. sacrificial giving, giving out of what we need to live on.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 15:13-30; 1 Kings 1:1-8
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TODAY IN THE WORD
During the American Civil War, former U.S. President Franklin Pierce denounced Abraham Lincoln's administration as cruel and oppressive and vehemently opposed the Emancipation Proclamation as unconstitutional. After Lincoln's death, an angry crowd gathered in front of Pierce's home in Concord, New Hampshire. The people demanded proof of Pierce's loyalty, angry that he had failed to display the American flag. Pierce picked up a small flag, expressed horror at Lincoln's murder, and said it was not necessary to show his loyalty by a special display. The crowd dispersed.

Emotions run high during a civil war, when loyalties are tested and treachery can appear in the most surprising places. King David experienced a revolt from within his ranks, in fact from within his family. His treacherous son Absalom won the hearts of the Israelites and drove his father from the throne in Jerusalem.

David could have stayed and fought. But he wanted to spare Jerusalem the destruction of battle, and no doubt he also wanted to preserve Absalom's life. So David and his loyal followers made a mournful exit from the city.

Among those who accompanied David was Zadok the priest, a descendant of Aaron. Zadok brought the ark of the covenant with him, and went back to Jerusalem only on David's specific orders.

Zadok's loyalty shines even brighter next to the treachery of his fellow priest Abiathar, who later conspired with Adonijah to take the throne from Solomon (1 Kings 1:7-8). David rewarded Zadok for his loyalty by naming him to anoint Solomon as king (1:32-35). Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood (2:26-27) for his disloyalty and replaced him with Zadok (2:35).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You don't have to look very far to find people who take the easy road when it comes to moral and ethical decisions.

The life of Zadok is a breath of fresh air on that score. Zadok had no way of knowing for sure that David would return to Jerusalem and regain the throne. He just knew that his loyalty was to the Lord's anointed ruler.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 16:11-15
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TODAY IN THE WORD
One of Britain's most famous queens, Victoria, was delighted with her visit to the childhood home of her beloved husband, Prince Albert. The prince's birthplace and boyhood home was a small castle in Bavaria known as Schloss Rosenau. Queen Victoria was so charmed by the welcome of the castle that she wrote, ""How happy and how joyful we felt on awakening to feel ourselves here."" The queen never forgot the warmth of her husband's childhood home.

Paul must have felt the same kind of warmth and welcome in the home of Lydia, the first European convert to Christianity. This praiseworthy woman was successful in business and generous in heart, as well as a person of obvious spiritual hunger and depth.

Lydia was identified as a ""worshiper of God,"" a term used of Gentiles who worshiped the true God and followed the teachings of Scripture (see Acts 10:2 concerning Cornelius). Lydia was not yet, however, a believer in Christ when Paul and his helpers came to Philippi. But God had prepared her heart to hear and believe the gospel (Acts 16:14).

Lydia's first actions after receiving Christ testified to the genuineness of her conversion. She immediately shared the gospel with her entire household, just like the Philippian jailer (16:32), and they were all saved.

Then Lydia presented herself and her family for baptism, a strong and in that day a costly step of obedience and identity with Christ. Finally, Lydia opened her home to Paul and his companions.

Even showing hospitality was a step of Christian courage for Lydia, given the very hostile reaction Paul later received in Philippi. We don't know how long the apostle and his friends stayed with Lydia, but it must have been a number of days.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Hospitality has taken on a different meaning in our day. Hotels take away the need for believers to open their homes to visiting missionaries or to other servants of Christ.

But if you have ever hosted someone who came to your church to minister, you know the joy of hospitality. And if you've never done it, you don't know what you're missing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 22:1-28
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TODAY IN THE WORD
When English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell wanted his portrait painted, he didn't pull any punches. Instead of instructing the artist to create a pleasing image, he said:

""Mr. Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.""

Unlike some other leaders, Cromwell didn't want to be surrounded by ""yes men"" who ignored the truth in order to boost the ego of the person in power. Such men are motivated purely by the hope of personal gain. But truth is truth---warts and all!

Sadly, what was true of Oliver Cromwell was not true of King Ahab. He had surrounded himself with some four hundred ""yes men""--false prophets who tickled his ears with what he wanted to hear. There was not a single genuine prophet of God among them. When Ahab decided to take back the region of Ramoth Gilead from the king of Syria, he called in his ""prophets"" to put God's ""rubber stamp"" on his plans (v. 6).

To his credit, Ahab's ally Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, knew mealy-mouthed prophecies when he heard them. So he challenged the message of these false prophets and asked for a true prophet of the Lord.

Reluctantly, Ahab admitted that he knew of one. He also knew that when the courageous Micaiah was brought onto the scene, the truth would be spoken. The king also suspected that he wouldn't be happy with what he heard. His concern was well founded, for Micaiah predicted Ahab's defeat and death at Ramoth Gilead.

Micaiah's earthly reward for faithfully representing the Lord was a slap in the face and a stint in prison on bread and water. But God honored His word through His prophet as Ahab was killed by a random arrow fired by a Syrian soldier (v. 34).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Did you notice in verse 13 that the messenger sent to bring Micaiah begged the prophet to cooperate and not upset Ahab?

The descendants of this nameless messenger are still among us today. You may be feeling pressure to keep quiet about your faith, to go along with questionable practices at work, or to make other ethical compromises. If you're not currently being pressured to compromise, you will be.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 10:38-42; John 12:1-3
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Juliette Gordon Low was deeply impressed by what she saw during a stay in England. Inspired by the ideals and work of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement in England, Mrs. Low called a friend and told her she had something for the girls of America and all the world. Then she added, ""And we're going to start it tonight."" True to her word, on March 12, 1912, Mrs. Low founded the Girl Scouts.

Martha of Bethany would have liked Juliette Gordon Low. Martha was a lot like her: hard-working and determined to get the job done ""tonight."" Interestingly, Mrs. Low's family described her as a ""grasshopper,"" never knowing where she was going to jump next. That's something of the image we have of Martha.

This older sister of Mary and Lazarus has gotten a lot of bad press for her reaction to Mary in the famous dinner story of Luke 10. One writer called her ""the woman who was more practical than spiritual.""

It does seem that Martha was more of an activist than Mary, who was more contemplative. And Jesus did rebuke Martha for her busyness, although we can be sure it was a rebuke of gentle love.

Jesus knew that Martha's preparations for dinner were her way of expressing her love, and He did not reject her hospitality. But she had failed to choose ""what is better,"" sitting at Jesus' feet listening to Him. Like most doers, Martha needed to be reminded that there is more to life than doing and activity.

John leaves no doubt that Jesus loved Martha and her family. Their home in Bethany was a welcome oasis for Him, and we can imagine that He looked forward to stopping there. In John 12:2, we find Martha serving Jesus dinner again, on His last visit before His crucifixion.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps it's appropriate we end our study of unsung Bible heroes and heroines with Martha. Living in the fast-moving 90s, we can easily identify with her.

Jesus gives the activists among us a good word of exhortation in Luke 10. It is better to simplify our plans if necessary in order to spend time with Him. Do you ever feel as though your life needs to be simplified and slowed down? Take a cue from the Lord: cut back on the activities, in order to choose ""what is better"" at His feet.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 5:1-11
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Pastor Bill Hybels has a good reminder for us concerning the need to be active ""fishers of men."" He says: ""Far too many Christians have been anesthetized into thinking that if they simply live out their faith in an open and consistent fashion, the people around them will see it, want it, and some how figure out how to get it for themselves.""

Of course, Hybels recognizes the value of a faithful Christian lifestyle. He is simply saying that we need to open our mouths and declare the gospel!

The life of Simon Peter, the fisherman, whose writings we will study this month, verifies the need for us to be Christ's witnesses (Acts 1:. Peter, his brother Andrew, and their partners, James and John, were doing fine in their business when a man named Jesus showed up one day.

Jesus was looking for faithful men to be His witnesses and apostles, and He wanted Peter and his partners. The Savior started by borrowing Peter's boat (Luke 5:3) and ended by calling the men to a new way of life.

Luke 4 reveals that Jesus had already performed a number of miracles at this early stage in His ministry, so the crowds He attracted were large. As the people pressed in upon Him at the shore, Jesus stepped into Peter's boat to give Himself some room to teach. Then He told Peter to go fishing (Luke 5:4).

Peter's response makes it clear that this was not the first time he had met Jesus. He addressed the Lord as ""Master"" and responded on Jesus' word alone to what seemed like a futile request.

The resulting miraculous catch of fish was an object lesson of what was ahead for Peter. His plea that Jesus leave him, because he knew himself to be a sinful man (v. , was a moment of self-revelation and confession that helped prepare Peter for his new calling.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like Peter and his partners, we too are called to share the gospel and to be ""fishers of men.""

Now that summer is in full swing, that unsaved neighbor you've been wanting to share Christ with will probably be out in his yard or her garden sometime this week. Pray for the opportunity and the boldness to share Christ with that person before the week is over.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 16:13-28
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TODAY IN THE WORD
Someone has said that the closest most people will ever get to perfection is when they write their own resumés!

Perhaps that's why author Rudyard Kipling once said, ""I never made a mistake in my life, at least, never one that I couldn't explain away afterward.""

Simon Peter certainly wasn't perfect, but he was called to follow the Lord. When Jesus Christ put His hand on Peter's life, the fisherman left his home in Capernaum to become Jesus' disciple. Today's text gives us a glimpse into both the potential and the problems with which Peter started his new career.

First, the potential. Peter's confession of Jesus as ""the Christ, the Son of the living God"" (v. 16) was a high-water mark in his time with the Lord.

Look at the praise and the promise this confession brought from Jesus. He pronounced Peter to be blessed, or happy, because God the Father had revealed this truth to him. Peter could never have figured it out on his own.

Jesus also promised that He would build His church despite the opposition of Satan. Peter's statement pointed to Christ Jesus Himself as the ""chief cornerstone"" of the church, with Peter and the other apostles and the prophets forming the foundation (Eph. 2:20).

Jesus also gave Peter the ""keys of the kingdom"" (Matt. 16:19), which Peter would later use to open the doors of the church to the Jews (Acts 2) and to the Gentiles (Acts 10).

Clearly, Peter was in line for an honored position among the disciples and in the formation of the church. But then we come to a problem. Soon after this incident, how could Peter turn around and take Satan's side against Jesus?

Peter didn't know that when he rebuked Jesus, he was siding with the devil. Peter let his overzealous nature take over when he heard Jesus talk about His death. Jesus had to pull Peter up short with a stinging rebuke.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Actually, we shouldn't be too surprised at Peter's quick verbal turnabout.

The apostle James reminds us that the same tongue can be used to bless God or to injure others (3:9-10). The sinfulness of human nature is on constant display in the way people use their tongues to shred others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 17:1-9
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TODAY IN THE WORD
During the 1964 Presidential campaign, Republican candidate Barry Goldwater displayed a knack for saying the wrong thing to the wrong audience. In the middle of a speech to farmers, he said a decline in price supports for farm goods would be good for them. He also told senior citizens that Social Security should be voluntary; later he attacked public electrical power in an area transformed by a power project.

We know that the apostle Peter also had a talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. On a high mountain one day, as Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, Peter made what must have seemed to him a clever suggestion. But as recorded in Matthew 16:23, he suffered another divine rebuke.

As background for our study of 1-2 Peter, we have been looking at several key incidents from Peter's time with Christ. The transfiguration was crucial to Christ's work on earth because it was a direct revelation of His deity.

That revelation was also important to Peter and his companions as a testimony to the Lord's heavenly origin and the truth of His claims. Peter later referred to this moment as proof that he and the other apostles were not fabricating their witness about Christ (see 2 Pet. 1:16-18).

In the middle of this incredible event Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus.

The sight was too much for Peter. He was so enthralled with the glory of the moment and of the amazing visitors that he wanted to stay put on the mountain. So he offered to build temporary shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah--with the clear implication that he, James and John would be glad to stick around too!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This side of heaven, we will never be in God's presence the way Peter was on that mountain.

But when we come to God in prayer, His presence with us is just as real. And He wants to speak to us as surely as He wants to hear from us.