Top of Mind

Mark 8: ³¹ And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. ³³ But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

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Bored was probably the best word I could use to describe the Sunday school students. Their parents had dragged them there and the person I was co-teaching with sounded monotone. “We need to entertain the students!” I exclaimed. I wonder what kind of gimmicks we can use.

• There were times when I thought people needed to be tricked into believing.
• There were times when I thought people would get bored by teaching what’s in the Bible.
• There were times when I thought entertainment was the best approach.

Peter had just heard the greatest lesson of mankind. He got the inside track on JESUS about to show HIS GODHOOD by being raised from the dead. Unfortunately he rejected JESUS’ statement as if JESUS needed a pep talk to stay in the political game.

• GOD says to me “Keep your thoughts on MY ways.”
• GOD says to me “Pray without ceasing.”
• GOD says to me “Test the Spirit from where people are coming.”

Gimmicks and entertainment can be problematic if they become the end goal. Leading someone to CHRIST must include the HOLY SPIRIT guiding that person. I must have enough faith to allow GOD to give me the right words to tell to people HE sends me.

• Do you think you need gimmicks to trick people into believing in CHRIST?
• Are you trying to attract people by football games and dinners without telling them about CHRIST?
• Can you keep GOD top of mind when reaching out to people?

Putting Words in Mouths

Matthew 16: 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.”

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“You won’t die” were my words to the person I donated blood platelets to. I mean this was my desire and I truly meant it with the best intentions. BUT GOD had other intentions.

• Sometimes when I speak about GOD, humanity is mixed in.
• Sometimes when I talk about HIS power, my sinfulness is mixed in.
• Sometimes when I utter words about GOD, I place my desires over HIS supremacy.

“GOD won’t do this” or “GOD won’t do that” may be my hopes, but may not be quite true. Peter did not know GOD’s wonderful purpose of saving mankind. He saw JESUS as the next great leader who had some better parlor tricks than anyone else. His statement “YOU are the CHRIST” was doused by saying “YOU won’t die”.

Peter did not know GOD’s intention to save the world through HIS death and resurrection so he put words in HIS mouth.  

• GOD wants me to ask what to say before I speak.
• GOD wants me to tell the truth in love speaking only from what GOD has to say.
• GOD wants me to not be afraid to give the hard news of the reality of HIS plan.

Worry ensues when I go against GOD’s plan. When HE wants to “ruin” me and I don’t want to be ruined, I worry and perhaps put words in HIS mouth. HE has taken me down many times only to build me up better than before. Following GOD’s plan means I allow HIM to be supreme. I do not have to place human words in HIS mouth.

• Are you secretly trying to steer GOD?
• Do you find yourself trying to get your way by saying you are exercising faith but you are really exercising worry?
• Can you stop trying to manipulate the situation and allow GOD to transform you into something greater?