Father, Your presence is greatly appreciated in every moment and aspect of my life. I love feeling the guidance of Your Spirit. Thank You for enabling me to hear You and to act upon that word.
Matthew 16:21-23 (<<click the green)
I don’t think I feel comfortable in saying that Peter was so full of himself that he thought he could set You straight, Lord, but I do think he felt secure enough in his relationship with You that he could be a bit confrontational. I don’t even think he did it to make himself look good in the eyes of his fellow disciples. When You made statements of Your pending persecution and death, Peter’s brain probably stuck right there and he didn’t even hear Your proclamation of raising from the dead.
Taking You aside he was quick to say, “Heaven forbid, Lord…This will never happen to you!” Peter wasn’t being belligerent or rebellious or disrespectful – Your words just didn’t fit into his preconceived ideas. But from Your perspective, Lord, it was Matthew 4 all over again. Satan had tempted You to skip all that messy persecution and death stuff. Showing You “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory”, he said, “I will give it all to you…if you will kneel down and worship me.”
And even though Peter may not have understood the full implications of what he was saying, he incurred Your wrath with a command to get away from You. It was the furthest thing from God’s plan and Peter had plopped himself right down in the middle of it. But You brought it to a screeching halt!
Lord Jesus, sometimes well-meaning family and friends may try to give us direction but unwise council can unwittingly be passed along. Help us to seek Your face – to spend time with You – and not just go with what everyone is saying. May we listen to You and when we hear You may we act upon Your word. Amen.
June 6th, 2018, Wed, 9:00 pm
