"Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 16:17 ESV)

Peter makes his bold confession "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" and shows his belief in Jesus even when others started to turn away from him. (Mt 16:16 ESV) I feel proud to be a Christian when I read passages like this or hear my sisters and brothers making bold confessions.

Today I started thinking about Jesus' comment, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven". (Mt 16:17 ESV) How exactly did Peter get this revelation? Was it:
* "Zapped" into his brain by God, the Father?
* A "special" and "secret" revelation that Peter heard and others didn't?
* Or was it merely the result of seeing Jesus' miracles (by the power of God) and hearing Jesus' message (the words of God) and taking the time to think about it?

God reveals his will to us when we read his word and consider what he's said and what it means for our lives. I don't think I have to sit on the couch to be moved by God to learn. Reading God's word "moves" me. When I love what I read and consider, I am: 1) moved closer to him and 2) moved on to better and better things. However, if I read his word and reject what it says, it moves me farther and farther away from him.

When people saw Jesus cast out demons and reacted by saying that Jesus was using the power of demons, they were "moved" by God's revelation. Sadly, they were moved in the wrong direction.

I pray that I will listen to God's word and always move forward with him.