“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:17–19
God’s invitation to you is personal. No one else can live your part in His story.
Each of us has a role in God’s plan, a mission designed for us alone. When Jesus spoke to Peter, He wasn’t just building His Church on one man, but setting a pattern for how God works: through ordinary people who say “yes” to Him.
You may not feel like a “rock” at times.
Peter certainly didn’t. He doubted, stumbled, even denied Jesus, but the Lord still called him to something greater.
And Peter’s faith, sometimes fragile, sometimes bold, became the foundation for so many others.
In our own way, God calls each of us to be a living stone in His Church. You might reach only a handful of people, your family, a friend, a stranger who crosses your path but that encounter matters.
Your quiet kindness, your faith in hard moments, your willingness to try again when you’ve failed, these are ways God builds His Church today.
God doesn’t ask for perfection, but for trust and a willing heart.
Like Peter, our faith might feel small. But placed in God’s hands, it becomes something strong enough for Him to build on.
Think about a time when you felt unqualified or unsure in your faith journey. How might God be inviting you, even with your weaknesses, to be a “rock” for someone else today? Who in your life could be encouraged or helped through your quiet acts of faith?
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me to be part of your Church.
Strengthen my faith, even when I feel weak.
Use my life, in big and small ways, to share your love with others.
Amen.
