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Remember when Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan!” in Mark 8:33? Are you also familiar with what He said next - “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Why did the Savior say those words, and what do they reveal about the human condition as it relates to the walk with God?
For context, Jesus rebuked Peter and called him Satan because the disciple had scolded Him for sharing that He would be persecuted and killed. Peter loved Jesus and couldn't bear to hear Him speak about His future hardship. Knowing God's plan for His life, Jesus had to oppose Peter's words and feelings. It didn't matter that they came from a good place. He needed to stay focused on God's plan, not his friend's feelings.
And that is something many of us overlook. Unlike Jesus, we fail to prioritize God's concerns. We get distracted by our feelings and desires. Over time, God's will for our lives often becomes insignificant to us. Yes, we say we want God's will and think we mean it, but when it’s time to decide, we usually choose ourselves.
We even put other people and things before Him. How many of us can admit to putting our significant others, children, or loved ones ahead of God and His plans? What about our jobs, favorite shows, or other activities? Far too often, we focus on everything except God and what He wants for us or for those He created us to influence.
Look at what Jesus said once more - “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Peter went from being a man whom Jesus had called His friend, to being labeled satan because he put his interests above God's plan. He didn't even realize he was doing this, by the way. He was just being his normal self - a fierce defender of those he loved. Unfortunately, his emotions and desires made him insensitive to the revelation Jesus shared about God's plan. He effectively became satan's mouthpiece when he tried to discourage Jesus from what was coming.
And that is another lesson to take from this incident. When we elevate our desires above those of the Lord, we may open the door for satan to step in and use us to speak or act contrary to God's will. If that happens, we are at risk of disobeying God and becoming a tool satan can use in achieving its evil schemes on the earth. When in actuality, we are to be tools and vessels for God alone.
Thank God for Jesus and His redeeming grace. Despite his mistake, Peter went on to serve God's purposes. Also, in John 15:3, He told His disciples, "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." We too are recipients of that same cleansing grace as detailed in 1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Therefore, the blood of the Lamb does a cleansing work in the children of God, constantly redeeming us from sin as we walk in the light of God's word and in fellowship with our fellow faithful believers. That promise of the Lord gives us another opportunity to correct our ways and go from prioritizing ourselves to making God's concerns most important. It is God's mercy that our failures don't always eliminate us from His larger plan. And the Lord will continue to help us, IJMN Amen.
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