How often do we let people tell us who we are in a negative way? The picture they paint can quickly become our own self-image.

Or maybe you berate yourself with negative talk without realizing it. What we let into our hearts, both negative and positive, can affect how we live.

We can end up walking with our heads down or lifted up.

I’m sure you have heard this story in Matthew many times, but today I want to focus on the dialogue between Jesus and Peter.

Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.”

Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter [Greek, Petros – a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra – a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]. I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have[already] been loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 16:13-19 (Amp)

Instead of focusing just on the authority part of this section, notice that Jesus asked Peter who He was? “But who do you say that I am?”

God then revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ – and right there Peter displayed faith that Jesus was in fact their Messiah and Son of God.

Then…Jesus told Simon Peter that he was Peter (Petros = a large piece of rock).

So before Jesus told Peter who he (Peter) really was, He made the point of having Peter recognize who HE was first.

This order really melted my heart because it’s as if He is saying

Look at me and remember and know who I am.  Now, I will tell you who YOU are.

Often, we look to others to tell us who we are, and unfortunately, we get feedback based on “what” we accomplished or how well we accomplished it. We seek to be graded by others. But this gives people permission to grade us, judge us, and berate us.

All the while, Jesus has a different and refreshing identity for us.

Peter is one of the disciples who often gets made fun of for his actions at times, but Jesus called him Petros = a rock.

It’s time for you to allow Jesus to tell you who you are. He won’t tell you who you have been. He will tell you how He made you to be; how He sees you and how you are known in heaven.

It’s time to set down the belittled name other people have given you and pick up the name Jesus is giving you.

– Bonnie Dorough

Your past says you are impatient, but Jesus says you have the mind of Christ and Christ is always patient.

Your past says everything bad always happens to you. But God says,- You are free from the curse of sin and are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.

You are not rejected. You are chosen by God for such a time as this.

The beauty of our relationship with Jesus is that we get to be founded in Him. We get to be a rock in a larger structure, and we can always plant our feet on the cornerstone – the safest and most well-structured rock – Jesus.

Today, forgive whoever you need to forgive (even if it is yourself). Decide not to call yourself bad names anymore.

You are not stupid, worthless or a hopeless cause. Those are degrading.

Let Jesus upgrade your identity by first saying – Yes, Jesus, you are my Messiah. You are my savior. You are the Son of God. Now, tell me who I am and who I am in you.

Take a minute now to ask God who you are? Ask Him for a new healthy way to see yourself. And remember, you are always a child of God!