From Simon to Peter

42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

Wouldn’t it be strange if someone that we had just met decided to change our name? “I’ve just met you, but your name isn’t Greta anymore. You will be _____.” Just imagine it! I am sure that would freak most of us out! But Jesus had the authority to change anyone’s name that He wanted to. He also knew the impact that Simon would have in the future for His kingdom, the church. In John 1:42, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Cephas/Peter which means a stone or a rock. And wasn’t Peter a rock? He was a foundational influence on the church of Christ in the first century! A rock symbolizes strength, reliability, and stability. It’s why we build our houses on a rock foundation. It’s why our lives are built on Jesus, the rock of ages. However, he wasn’t much of a rock on the night Jesus was crucified, now was he? He was literally like sand washing away as he denied Jesus three times. Jesus knew all along that Peter was going to deny him, yet he still saw the rock that he would be in the future for His kingdom. That’s a lesson for us. No matter what our past is, we can be a rock for Jesus in the future. And the future can start in the next minute! We don’t have to wait years down the road to begin to change. I have a past that was like sand just like Peter. I was weak, unreliable, and unstable….the complete opposite of a rock. We all have a past. Some have a more complicated past than others, but we all have one. But our past doesn’t matter to Jesus. Jesus sees past all our imperfections, all our past mistakes, all the way to our potential. He also knows if we are going to use our potential to actually do something for Him! You’ve heard of potential energy and kinetic energy, right? Warning, science lesson! Potential energy is stored energy that hasn’t been used yet. It’s different for every object depending on its position, properties, and the forces behind it. It is like a basketball in your hand that hasn’t been released yet. That ball has potential energy. Kinetic energy is energy in motion. It is that same basketball that is released from your hand, and goes through the net to win the game at the buzzer!  Our energy is either potential or kinetic. Is the basketball still in our hand waiting to be released? Is our potential for God’s kingdom still waiting to be released? Is our energy for God in motion? It’s up to us to turn our potential into reality. I want to be a rock for Jesus in my life. I’m a work in progress for sure. I have a long way to go. But…..I’m striving through the ups and downs of this life. Never let your past define you. Don’t let it steal your energy! Never give up! We will never truly reach our full potential, because Jesus is the bar that we are striving to reach. Peter didn’t reach it either. No human ever has. But…..we can reach new levels of potential every day of our lives simply by putting Him first, and then stepping outside our comfort zone every now and then….for Him. Are we turning our potential in God’s kingdom into a reality?  

You know…..speaking of names…..we wear a new name after we become a disciple of Christ. It is a new identity, or it should be. It was foretold by Isaiah in chapter 62 and verse 2b, “You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.” It is called “Christian”, and it was first used at Antioch in Acts 17:26. We may look the same physically, but our speech, actions, reactions, behaviors, habits, etc. should look completely different to the world after we become Christians. What is most important to us should change as well. By the world’s standards, I am still Greta, but my identity is “Christian”. I didn’t always wear it well, but I desperately want to wear it well from now on. I hope and pray that from here on out, I will wear the name “Christian” with courage…..like a badge of honor…..without fear or shame…..with all glory going to My Savior and My Creator. 

Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? If you aren’t, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

Then, we remain faithful in our commitment to Christ until death. (Revelation 2:10, 2 Peter 2:20-22)