Bible Society of South Africa
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Preserved in Jesus Christ
Preserved in Jesus Christ – Day 20
Neville Turley

Preserved in Jesus Christ – Day 20

Your Role in God’s Plan

Bible text(s)

Ephesians 1

11All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning.

Ephesians 1:11GNBOpen in Bible reader

Matthew 16

Peter's Declaration about Jesus

13Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14“Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.”

15“What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17“Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. 18And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

20Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Matthew 16:13-20GNBOpen in Bible reader

Other people’s lives of can remind us that God has a plan for each one of us. It may not be what we ourselves have in mind or even what we want, but it is his will for our life.

The apostle, Andrew, lived very much in the shadow of his brother, Simon (Peter). Peter was a man of action and a born leader. God the Father directly revealed Jesus as the Messiah to him. This declaration led to Jesus saying, “Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church …” (Matthew 16:13-20). Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost and 3 000 people believed (Acts 2:41). Peter even raised a dead woman to life (Acts 9:40). Andrew’s ministry was nothing like this, yet he was key to Peter’s ministry.

What did Andrew do? Andrew led Peter to Jesus.

Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, so Andrew and another disciple went to see Jesus. At Jesus’ invitation, they spent the rest of the afternoon with him (John 1:36-39). Immediately thereafter, Andrew found his brother, Simon (Peter), and told him. “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41), then he took him to Jesus.

It was Andrew who brought the boy with the five loaves of barley bread and two fish to Jesus (John 6:8-9).

In Jerusalem, when some Greeks approached Philip to see Jesus, Philip went to Andrew and they both went and told Jesus (John 12:20-22).

Andrew led people to Jesus. He was a vital part of God’s wonderful plan and purpose, just as we are today.

In our own humble walk of faith, we may lead people to Christ personally or indirectly, by making a Bible available to someone who, through its pages, will meet Jesus.

What a privilege to be a Christian and be able to share the gospel.

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