SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s. [Matthew 16:23] Although Jesus’ words may seem harsh, there is an important lesson here. Satan is always lurking in and around us, trying to twist our focus or perspective away from God, towards our own limited point of view. Even when we are close to the Lord, and making great confessions (like Peter), we can be sidetracked.
The religious leaders had their perspective twisted. They demanded a sign because they refused to believe the signs that were already there (amazing miracles, amazing teaching). Jesus refuses to give them another sign because He knows their hearts are closed, and another sign won’t help. Satan has succeeded in making them see things from a human point of view.
The disciples are distracted by temporal concerns (like having enough food), so the moment Jesus mentions yeast (in a figurative sense) their minds right away go to their worries about food. Here again, Satan has succeeded in making them see things from a human point of view.
When Jesus asks about what the people are saying, He praises God that He has revealed His true identity to the disciples (‘You are the messiah, the Son of the Living God’). This is obviously God’s point of view! But no sooner does this come out of Peter’s lips that Satan succeeds in making him see things from a human point of view.
The human perspective on the messiah was a worldly king who would kill their enemies and establish their ‘happy place’. Any talk of the messiah suffering or dying didn’t fit with their worldly dreams. Satan had succeeded in making the Jews twist God’s kingdom purpose into their own selfish kingdom dreams.
Now Jesus talks about suffering as a Jesus-follower, losing our lives for His sake. Once again, we can wonder whether Satan has succeeded in making christians see things from a human point of view. We’ve twisted it into a health and wealth gospel, a safe life, a life of blessing. We avoid risk, we seek comfort. If even Peter could be deceived, what about us?
PRAYER:
Lord, open my eyes to see how I have let Satan twist the message and life of following You from what it was supposed to be.
It seems I need reminders everyday right now.
To focus on the main thing.
It is God who enables me to do what He has called me to do.
Satan does try to distract me by looking at the circumstances right now..but it is God who is in control.
Thank-you God that You are in charge no matter what things look like. Holy Spirit keep reminding me to do the thing I have been called to do and not get sidetracked. Thank-you.
Yeast makes the bread grow. I need to grow in the Lord. Growth is a main ingredient of daily living, but how do I grow? What is the main ingredient in my life? What’s my focus? What makes me rise to the occasion?
The Pharisee and Sadducee thought only of themselves – their purposes – man made religion. The disciples finally got it that they were to grow in Christ. They were in Christ’s school and this learning never stops. Life time learners we must be and Jesus is the Master Teacher. The Teacher shows the Way but at times I like the disciples, am a slow learner. And so the Teacher reinforces, reteaches the main ingredient once again so that the disciples/I might learn to follow Him in all of my life.
I must grow in Him. I need to learn my lessons well. Thank You Lord for Your Word and for showing the Way and for the gift of Your Spirit to help me on my Way to live for Jesus. Help me to grown in You on my journey of learning in joy.
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.