Keys to the Kingdom

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Have you ever wondered what the keys to the kingdom are? In response to Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (his confession) I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven” (Matthew 16:17-19).

The keys to the kingdom were not only for Peter. They are for every believer who abides in Christ and in whom His word abides.

THINK ABOUT IT

The person who abides in Christ has God-shaped desires. He knows the character and will of God from being in a relationship with Him. That is the person God gives the keys of the kingdom. Could the keys be our prayers? Jesus said, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 16:7).

PRAY ABOUT IT

Holy God, wonderful Father, thank you for Jesus. Through His sacrifice we have access to you, our Lord. Thank you! As we abide in you, teach us your ways, will and purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Well of Living Water

Artesian well. Eruption of spring, natural environment. Stones and water. Clean drinking groundwater erupting out of the ground. Norra Spring Area, Oostriku River, Endla Nature Reserv, Estonia, Europe

Have you ever heard a person say she was going through a spiritually dry season? To be honest, I have felt spiritually dry before. This is how Jeremiah wrote about what God says of spiritual drought: “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13).

Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal live” (John 4:13-14).

A spring of living water is like an artesian well–a fountain of unending, cold, fresh water that comes from the depths of the earth and quenches any thirst. This can happen for us spiritually by abiding in Christ. Jesus said, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you” (John 15:4).

THINK ABOUT IT

Beloved, if you experience drought in your Christian walk, return to God. Pray for Him to send His Spirit upon you to open your eyes to His presence in your life. He waits with open arms to receive you; to love and care for you. Don’t wait another minute. Seek God now with all your heart and He will direct your paths.

PRAY ABOUT IT

Holy Lord, draw us close to you. Calm our anxious hearts and sustain us through our problems, pain and suffering. In Jesus’ name, Amen.