21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:21-23 [NIV])
What a very interesting passage of Scripture and many of us know it. And yet I think we are all guilty of the same reasoning, just on different topics that Peter was. Jesus is predicting his death and Peter takes him aside and tells him this is not going to happen, it shouldn’t happen in his mind will never happen. Why? Because it doesn’t line up with human reasoning and logic. Jesus was going to be victorious in Jerusalem. He wasn’t going to die there. That messes up the plan. Jesus replies with the fact that Peter only has human concerns in mind and not godly ones. How can we be guilty of this today? Here are some ways:
- My child could never go to a closed country to share the gospel. It’s too dangerous.
- Someone else will stop and help that person who is struggling along the road. I don’t need to.
- My child needs to be in as many sports as possible, evening neglecting Sunday morning activities at church because they may get a full ride scholarship or even better a pro career.
This faulty thinking of ours goes on and on. Where could you be guilty of putting human concerns before godly ones? What can you do to turn those actions and thinking around? Do it today!
Sixty-six books in a year 