God Doesn't Work The Way You Think
Matthew 16:22–23 (ESV) And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
One thing is for sure, a lot of people in the book of Matthew disagree with God's plan along the way. In chapter two it's Joseph, in the third chapter it's John the Baptist and now in chapter 16 you half-year disagreeing with the way God is doing things.
The interesting thing is that these were all three very good men in human history. No doubt that they were righteous, that they serve God with all their heart, that they had a love for Christ. Yet they vastly misunderstood the dynamic and details of God's eternal plan from the foundations of the world.
The lesson is simple: even the best of us usually don't get it right concerning God's ways.
I know God's ways seem contrary to my best plans.
Notice Jesus' rebuke: "For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Man desires to be first. God desires to put the needs of others first.
Man desires power and conquest. God desires servanthood and sacrifice.
Man desires might. God desires right.
It makes ask this question, what am I setting my mind upon? The things of God? Or the things of man?
No matter how close I get to Jesus I still know that there are going to be ways in which I may not understand what He's doing.
Immediately after Jesus' rebuke of Peter, Jesus delivers a caution. Trying to save your life will lose it. Attempting to live man's ways lead to certain destruction. But living God's way will yield a true and just reward.
Living for Christ can feel like living backwards. The world goes left and you go right. The world says up and you say down. The world says conquer and you surrender. At some point, you have to trust him, take a step of faith and move in the direction you think makes the least sense.
PRAYER:
May I never feel as though I know better than you, Father. Help me to know your ways for the sake of your Name.
One thing is for sure, a lot of people in the book of Matthew disagree with God's plan along the way. In chapter two it's Joseph, in the third chapter it's John the Baptist and now in chapter 16 you half-year disagreeing with the way God is doing things.
The interesting thing is that these were all three very good men in human history. No doubt that they were righteous, that they serve God with all their heart, that they had a love for Christ. Yet they vastly misunderstood the dynamic and details of God's eternal plan from the foundations of the world.
The lesson is simple: even the best of us usually don't get it right concerning God's ways.
I know God's ways seem contrary to my best plans.
Notice Jesus' rebuke: "For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Man desires to be first. God desires to put the needs of others first.
Man desires power and conquest. God desires servanthood and sacrifice.
Man desires might. God desires right.
It makes ask this question, what am I setting my mind upon? The things of God? Or the things of man?
No matter how close I get to Jesus I still know that there are going to be ways in which I may not understand what He's doing.
Immediately after Jesus' rebuke of Peter, Jesus delivers a caution. Trying to save your life will lose it. Attempting to live man's ways lead to certain destruction. But living God's way will yield a true and just reward.
Living for Christ can feel like living backwards. The world goes left and you go right. The world says up and you say down. The world says conquer and you surrender. At some point, you have to trust him, take a step of faith and move in the direction you think makes the least sense.
PRAYER:
May I never feel as though I know better than you, Father. Help me to know your ways for the sake of your Name.
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