The Bell

The Bell

Bible:Matthew 16:13-20

I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates
of Hades will not overcome it (V.18).

Reading

Jack dreamed of joining the navy from when he was a little kid—an ambition that led to years of exercise, discipline and self-sacrifice. When he was old enough, he faced exhausting tests of strength and survival. Jack wasn’t able to complete the demanding training, and finally rang a bell
to tell the commander and other trainees that he had decided to quit the programme. For most of us, this kind of thing would feel like failure. But even though he was really disappointed, Jack was able to see his ‘failed’ military experience as good life-training for whatever God had in store for him next. Peter, one of Jesus’ first followers, went through his own time of failure. He boasted to Jesus and the other disciples that he would stay loyal to Jesus even to prison or death (LUKE 22:33). Yet later he wept because he’d denied knowing Jesus to save his own skin (VV.60-62). But God had plans to use even this failure. Before Peter messed up big time, Jesus had told him, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (MATTHEW 16:18; SEE ALSO LUKE 22:31-32). Are you struggling with a mess you’ve made? Do you feel like a failure and unable to move on? Don’t let the ringing bell of failure make you miss God’s plans for you. He can use even our bad days to prepare us for what’s coming next.

GOD CAN USE EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE, EVEN THE BAD
STUFF, TO SHAPE US FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries