JAN 5

Matthew 16:18
Memorise Daniel 11:32
”…the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Matthew 16:18 is often misinterpreted by the Catholic Church to claim that Christ chose Peter as their first Pope. What Jesus meant here was a word play between the Greek words for Peter (Petros, or stone) and Rock (Petra). Jesus was telling Peter that He would be the rock which the church would be built upon. Peter too could not achieve anything unless he built upon the same foundation of Christ the solid Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4).

John Calvin was probably the greatest of all the Reformers. He published the first edition of The Institutes of Christian Religion at the young age of 27. This monumental treatise became the definitive statement for all time for the Reformed Faith and is still widely used today in Reformed churches, being regarded as one of the best systematic theologies ever written. He also wrote commentaries on almost every book of the Bible!

It was God who used Calvin to accomplish great works for Him. God raised him up for the mighty work of Reformation. Mere hard work could not have accomplished all that Calvin did. Not even intellectual power can produce the great spiritual depth and clarity that Calvin brought in his writings. The life and works of Calvin were truly built upon the foundation that is Jesus Christ.

Dear teen, there are many in this world whose lives have been ruined. They have no sure foundation to build their lives on. They refuse to hear the truth. Have you solely rested on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection and ascension? Or do you trust more in yourself or in other men? I remember a teen who, years ago, seemed to be faithful for a season, only to leave church when he was rejected by a girl in the same fellowship. This teen’s faith was not built upon the foundation of Christ alone, he was here merely for the social interactions, and had ulterior motives in mind. The teen that does build upon Christ, will trust that if it is God’s will to have a life partner, then in His time He will providentially bring the two together.

Thought: Only Jesus is our sure foundation.

Prayer: Lord, grant that I may be eternally grateful to Thee for saving me since Jesus came into my heart.