A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

YOU ARE THE CHRIST      

Matthew 16:17-19 “Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And 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. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 

It is not common to hear someone say they are blessed. When someone says they are blessed, what would cause them to say they are? One would consider themselves blessed if they have experienced good fortune, had a prosperous life, good health, or experienced love and happiness.   

You will note in yesterday’s devotion and again in today’s devotional verses none of the usual reasons for feeling blessed were included in what Jesus said. Jesus said that Peter was blessed because he confessed and believed that Jesus is the “Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Having Christ one is blessed. Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms." 

What are the blessings you receive when you have Christ Jesus. Through Him you receive redemption, forgiveness, adoption into God’s family, and God’s unconditional love and salvation. You have, based on these gifts, a life that moths and rust cannot destroy, where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Instead, you have a treasure that is stored up in heaven for you. (Matthew 6:19ff) 

 Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for the blessings I have through You. Amen. 

Blest is the man, forever blest,   
Whose guilt is pardoned by his God,  
Whose sins with sorrow are confessed   
And covered with his Savior’s blood. 

Blest is the man to whom the Lord  
Imputes not his iniquities;  
He pleads no merit of reward  
And not on works but grace relies. 

From guile his heart and lips are free;  
His humble joy, his holy fear,  
With deep repentance well agree  
And join to prove his faith sincere. 

How glorious is that righteousness  
That hides and cancels all his sins,  
While bright the evidence of grace  
Thro’ all his life appears and shines!

Blest is the Man, Forever Blest // TLH 392