Long before we had Facebook and other virtual social networks, we learned that we needed to be careful who our friends are. Our parents cautioned that we might become "like them," so we needed to choose friends who would be a good influence over us. I hate to admit it, but they were right! In fact, the apostle Paul cautions in I Corinthians 15:33, "...bad company corrupts good character." We do tend to become like the people with whom we closely associate.
In Matthew 16:13-17, Jesus is with his disciples and asks them what people are saying about him. Some folks of the day thought he was John the Baptist or one of the prophets, but when Jesus asked his disciples who they believed him to be, Peter spoke up and declared, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God." Peter, a "close associate" of Jesus, had friended Jesus, and the Heavenly Father revealed the true nature of Jesus to him.
The result of Peter's friendship with Jesus had greater influence than the fisherman ever imagined the day he decided to follow Christ. Jesus dubbed Peter the Rock upon which he would build his Church, a church so powerful that "...all the powers of Hell will not conquer it" (Matthew 16:18-20).
Here's what happens when we decide to friend Jesus - our lives are transformed forever! We acknowledge that we need Jesus as our Savior, and this is the first change that takes place. This was Peter's first step - God revealed to him his need for the Messiah in his life. It changed his direction for all eternity.
The evidence of the transformation comes as we become intimate in our relationship with our Friend. We begin to talk about him, want to spend time with him, be like him. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we enter into this relationship, "...The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" What once defined who we are is transformed; we are influenced. As Peter entered more deeply into knowing Jesus, he became more of who he was intended to be. The brash, impetuous Peter who proclaimed that he'd never deny Christ and who chopped off the ear of Malthus was shaped into the Apostle Peter, the church-builder, boldly preaching the Gospel, led by the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. This Peter who turned fearful and disloyal on the night of Jesus's crucifixion became courageous for Christ and died a martyr for the Gospel.
When we start hanging out with Jesus, we find our "real selves." He begins the transformation process "re-shaping" us into who we were created to be. He shapes us to serve him. We are called to be "salt and light" to our world (Matthew 5:13-14). Jesus proclaimed that Peter and people like him are the Church that can't be destroyed. He declared, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). We become the Church with power to serve!
Heavenly Father, we desire to be so intimate with you that our lives will be transformed, that we will be "salt and light" to those around us, that we will be the Church. Our prayer is that of the Psalmist: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14) so that others may come to know you. Fill us to overflowing with more of You and less of ourselves. May we take on your character and be more like you. In your name we pray these things. Amen.
