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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. To learn more, please read: 1. To want or to give? That is the question 2. The Impact of Your Relationship With God (10/25/24) 3. Desire God's More For Yourself (6/27/25) 4. Topic: God is responsible for you

As believers in Christ, we are called to speak graciously in Colossians 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Here, the word of God challenges us in how we address others. This should come as no surprise, as the Bible makes it clear that people should be careful what they say. The words we speak have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us (Proverbs 4:23). But what exactly is gracious speech? One way to understand it is to see gracious speech as the ability to communicate in a way that glorifies God's purpose and draws others to Him. Although most of us can confess that doing so isn't always easy, I believe this is how God wants us to speak to others. Fortunately, the Bible provides context and illustrates how to speak in a manner that is full of grace. A believer speaks graciously when they consider that their every word will one day be judged (James 2:12). This requires the fear of the Lord and submission to the Spirit of God, who will counsel us on how and what to say. The way we speak should also set a good example to our fellow believers. 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. ​ Speaking graciously is required when we are asked why we believe in Jesus, even when the other person is being rude. We are called to communicate in a manner that disarms criticism and reflects Christ's character per 1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. Gracious speech cannot be unwholesome. It, therefore, should not include foul language or lewd descriptions. Ephesians 4:29 - Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them (NLT). As priests and representatives of the Lord, believers speak graciously when they express themselves with godly knowledge and wisdom. Malachi 2:7 states, It is the duty of priests to teach the true knowledge of God. People should go to them to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the LORD Almighty (GNT). Although we don't live in a world where gracious speech is respected or rewarded, Scripture cannot be set aside (John 10:35). We would therefore be remiss to ignore God's expectations for those of us who call ourselves Christians and/or His children. Yes, when you decided to obey Him, you may have been a person who spoke however you liked. However, the beautiful thing about having a relationship with the Lord is that while He accepts you as you are, He plans to change you into the fullness of who He created you to be for His purpose. IJN, we shall allow the Lord to help us so we glorify Him with gracious speech. Amen. See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you! To learn more, please read: 1. Empty Word 2. Careful what you say 3. Idle Words Block Blessings 4. Careful what you say about yourself 5. 1 Peter 2:17 6. Psalm 1 7. Complete Respect 8. Responding to Scoffers 9. Stop Cussing

Many people look at the world around them and think God is unfair. The disparities they see certainly contribute to that attitude. Think about the people who make millions each day, while others work back-breaking jobs only to earn pennies in 24 hours. Or those whose privilege allows them to escape with a slap on the wrist for a crime that earns another person severe punishment. Such things can cause certain people to conclude that whoever created the world is unjust. However, many fail to realize that God gave humans the freedom to choose whether or not they would obey His instructions. Those instructions also came with information on the consequences of applying or ignoring them. What we see in the world today is the cumulative effect of the choices people have made over time. Many of those choices have produced dire consequences that, unfortunately, impact certain people more than others. Fortunately, God has a track record of mercy. In 2 Kings 22, King Josiah discovered that his people were ignorant of many of God's requirements when a long-lost Torah scroll was found. It revealed how far they had strayed from God's rules, and Josiah set out to rectify things. For instance, he reinstituted the Passover celebration, which had not been observed since the days of Moses (2 Kings 22:21-23). And when the Lord saw how seriously the king grieved for his nation's errors, He had compassion upon them. ​ That heart of compassion is why He sent His Son, Jesus, to the earth to close the separation that sin created between individuals and God, their Maker. Jesus therefore served as an eternal sacrifice to cleanse all who would believe in Him and choose to obey His God-given teachings. All so that the stain of sin would no longer subject people to satan, who wants everybody to end up in hell for eternity. This blessing was for those who were unaware of God's laws as well as those who knew but had backslidden or chosen to disobey. That compassion remains the reason why, despite our failures and iniquities, we experience mercy today. That opportunity you didn't qualify for, but you got anyway. It wasn't because you were so charming. It was because God, who loves you, made a way. Do you remember that day, when everything went wrong and yet someone offered you a kind word that made you smile? It was because God wanted to use that person to express His love to you. Are those the actions of a God who is unfair? Yes, much of the world doesn't make sense. There is great injustice and cruelty that defies logic. Yet somehow, God will give His children reasons to be joyful. He does this because He knows how tough things can be. Plus, He encourages us to pour out our hearts to Him in prayer (Psalm 55:22). He promises that all who call on Him will be saved (Joel 2:32). He longs to show mercy, but because we are unfamiliar with His word, we miss out on the blessings and grace that are our inheritance as His children. God wants us to experience His best, but this requires a choice that isn't solitary. It is a decision to be His child, obey Him, accept discipline when we sin, listen to His Holy Spirit, and allow Him to make us more Christ-like each day. As we submit to His desires in godly humility, we'll increasingly discover just how good God has been and how He's patiently waited for us. We'll understand that just because the world we humans produced from our wrong choices is unfair does not mean God is not kind. And we'll soon realize that more people need to taste and see that the Lord is good and not unfair. To learn more, please read: 1. Let God Have His Way 2. You are being built for the Lord 3. Fullness of Life 4. God's Best is for His Children 5. Don't Slander or Blaspheme God 6. Are you a good or bad example? 7. God Is Waiting On You 8. Don't Deceive or Lie To God 9. Be Compassionate 10. Topic: Suffering 11. Topic: The Wait