Matthew 16:13-16 (KJV) says, “13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

From major news media outlets to social media, people are so intrigued with bad news. They are quick to share information, or even misinformation, to someone else who may not know what they themselves have heard. It can be stories that bare or contain no evidence of truth, but they will treat it as absolute! It is easy to draw to the wrong conclusions about people all because of the gossip being spoken about them. But now is the time to change the story line! 

 

When is the last time you “gossiped” about God? When have you told someone, “Hey, did you hear what Jesus did in my life,” or, “did anyone tell you what happened this past Sunday at our church service?” People need to be motivated and encouraged to hear the good news of Christ! He is still healing, saving and delivering. He hasn’t changed! Yet, people live as though Christ is still dead and not working miracles any more! The fact is when Jesus walked on planet earth, people did gossip about Him. In Matthew 14:34-36, the reason so many people wanted to touch the hem of Christ’s garment was because “they heard”, how the woman having the issue of blood for twelve years came and touched the hem of His garment and was instantly healed (Mark 6:25-29). It set the pace for others to receive their healing because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). By sharing what God has done for us or even for someone else, we can declare God’s healing and miraculous power to be at work in someone else’s life! Gossiping about God can change someone else’s story, even the story of a community, city or region!

 

People in Jesus’ day knew or even witnessed that He worked miracles, but they were unsure of who He was. Even Christ’s disciples had heard some of the gossip. It is why some people believed He was John the Baptist or Elijah, even Jeremiah or one of the prophets of the Old Testament. But none of this was true! These “theories” came as a result of encountering or hearing about Christ without really knowing Him. It is why Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” They needed to be able to correctly give out the truth concerning Him, and this could only derive from relationship. Simon Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” He boldly declared the truth about Christ, not because he had witnessed miracles or heard great teachings, but because He knew Him. You will tell others freely who Christ as a result of an authentic relationship with Him. Do not go to Him because you need some type of miracle, but be faithful in the place of devotion because you long to know him MORE!