When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is? “Who do people say the Son of Man is? ”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:13-17 CSB
Do You Know The Living God?
In Matthew chapter 16, we are given Matthew’s account of the questions that Jesus asked the disciples at Caesarea Philippi. When Jesus asked what people said about him, the disciples responded with John the Baptist; Elijah; and Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But when Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers Jesus with “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
They were standing in Caesarea Philippi, a center of Greek and Roman pagan worship. Peter’s response that he was the Messiah; the Son of the living God is a stark contrast to the dead idols these people were worshipping. Also, the living God is a much more powerful and true Messiah than the dead apostles and prophets. They were dead. They could not save anyone. But when people cannot make sense of something, they create theories in their own understanding.
Another story of an apostle standing in the midst of a pagan city full of idol worshippers was Paul in Athens. (Acts 17:22-27) Athens was full of idols and idol worshippers, and Paul was distressed so much so that he was compelled to address the people in Athens about who the true and living God is.
Paul began by telling the people of Athens that he could see they were “extremely religious” as he observed all the objects of their worship as he passed through the streets. They even had an altar to an “unknown god.” They worshipped idols that they didn’t even know. Paul told the people of Athens that they were worshipping gods made with human hands, but the true God, creator of heaven and earth, is not confined by temples built with human hands. He doesn’t need us to serve him; he is God no matter what. Not only does he not need us to make him God, but he also gave us life and breath and everything else.
Paul was talking to a community of people who were worshipping dead gods. These gods could not ever satisfy the longings in their hearts. These gods would never love them or care about them. These gods could do absolutely nothing for them. But a living God… the living God could fulfill every need they could ever have. The living God gave them life and breath and everything else. The living God loved them and cared about them and would always be with them through every circumstance. The living God would hear them when they cried out and would respond. An idol or false god will never respond to our real need. A living God answers prayers.
Paul went on to say:
For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ Since, then, we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination. Acts 17:28-29
Everything we need comes from him. He gives life and he is life. He is the source of life for all things. He gives spiritual life and eternal life through faith in him. As his child, we live and move and have our being in him. I love that verse because some days it feels hard to live and move and be at all. There are idols that can get you through those days, but you will be worse off in the end. Those days we need to be wrapped up in him and what he can give, no idol will ever be able to give. Idols only take; they never give even when it feels like they are giving.
What do Peter’s words say about how we are to think and live? How will you apply them to everything you do in the coming week? How will you share the truth of these words with others?
When the one true and living God is our God, we live and move and have our being in him. All of us – every part – is filtered through the truth of who he is. All we think and do and say will glorify him and point others to him when we abide in him. The way we live our lives shows others what we believe, which is our living testimony. Are you abiding in him – the living God?
Who or what do you call Messiah in your life?
Do you serve the one true God or many little gods?
Do you have an altar to an unnamed god in your life?
