Satan's Tool

"Get thee behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."  Matt 16:23, Mark 8:33

Dear Peter, bless him.  Another of my favorite members of the family.  He is passionate and strong, loyal and loving, and quick to act.  Great character qualities to have...when coupled with the spirit's guidance.  He also had "foot in mouth disease" meaning he spoke before he thought...a LOT!  His filter wasn't always working LOL

In these passages of the Gospel story, Peter has just declared to all around him that Jesus is God's Son, no matter who anyone else says he is.  Jesus is pleased and speaks prophetically that Peter will lead the early church after his departure.  Jesus then starts preparing the disciples for his soon coming suffering and death.  And Peter opens his mouth...

Before really listening to Jesus, Peter jumps in to...rebuke Jesus.  Really, Peter?!  You've just stated he is God's Son and you are gonna REBUKE him?  That's too funny to me.  Like he could stop Jesus from completing the mission of grace he was on.  Peter's mind wasn't set on God's interests.  Instead he focused on the grief, the loneliness he would experience without Jesus, the loss of vision he would have.

So what are God's interests??

1.  Denying yourself.
     Deny-apameomai- means to forget one's self and one's own interests.  What matters to me, doesn't anymore!  What is more important is what God wants to do with me.  What I do with my time, who I speak to, how I live, where I work, where I serve...all need to be HIS interests not mine.  When is the last time I denied myself ANYTHING??  In this culture of expectancy and entitlement, this is completely foreign thinking.  It's every man for himself and get it while you can.  Jesus just told the culture where to take that thinking...back to Satan where it belongs.

2.  Lose your life.
     Jesus says that trying to save your own life will ultimately lead to you losing it.  But if you lose your life, you'll save it.  HUH??  Yep, Jesus loves the ironies.  He again wants us to understand that only HE can keep us safe and sound.  He wants to use our lives but only after we lose (apollymi-put out of the way entirely, render useless) ourselves.

3. Be bold.
    Jesus instructs the disciples and ultimately us to bodly speak the gospel in this generation and to not be ashamed of him or his words.  If you've forgotten yourself and rendered yourself useless unless he fills you, then this task is easy! If I am full of myself and self-interest, this won't ever happen.

It's a beautiful picture, really.  Me...empty of me...full of him...telling others about his love and rescue of them.

Wondering where the title of today's blog comes from??  It's the sidebar idea that God revealed to me last night in the middle of the night when I once again couldn't sleep.

Jesus' best earthly friend, Peter, was at one time a stumbling block to him.  He was Satan's tool. Oh.my...

As I laid in bed and pondered this, I began to see the times I have been a stumbling block to my friends and it broke my heart.  When my self-interest trumped God's in my interactions with them.  The gentle conviction leads to repentance and renewal. Oh, how careful we need to be with those we love.  Weighing our words before speaking them.  Letting the Spirit lead.

 Lord, empty me of me today that I may be full of you and speak the words you would have me say.  I am unashamedly sold out to you.