“From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death. Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You! But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.” Matthew 16:21-23 ->me: Back from vacation (and the memorial service), I am now back into the swing of writing out and sending my Quiet Time applications and insights God continues to give me in my life. This one today is a passage that, every time I read it, I cringe for Peter. Remember, Peter had just received the amazing blessing from Jesus for his declaration of Jesus as the Messiah. Peter, nor the rest of the disciples, could comprehend that Jesus’ mission and God’s plan were for Jesus to come and suffer and ultimately die on a cross. Jesus needed to make an example of Peter and drive home that Messiahship is not about what THEY wanted. In fact, what they wanted, was actually a stumbling block to the purpose of ‘the coming of the Son of God’. When I think of how I apply this to my life today, I realize that I try to wrap myself in the wonderful love and blessing God has given me, rather than see that there is work to do. I can easily keep myself in the little comfy bubble God has allowed me to have here on earth, but I must consistently remind myself that the real life has yet to begin; and there are preparations to be made and lives that need to hear the wonderful news of Jesus. So, today I reflect on what God’s mission is for me. I definitely don’t want to be a stumbling block.
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