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In Matthew 16 beginning with verse 13, we find Jesus asking His disciples who people say the Son of Man is. No one has a clue, even the disciples, until Simon receives a revelation from the Father: “Thou are the Christ the Son of the Living God.”
Then Simon is given a new name, Peter (or Rocky in today’s vernacular), and a remarkable promise of spiritual authority soon to come to believers.
But then Jesus Foretells His death in Jerusalem, and “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Mat 16:22-23.
Did you get the last part, satan was a stumbling block to Jesus for he was inspiring even the disciples to SHIFT FOCUS – and look at life from man’s perspective instead of God’s!
Jesus was a stumbling block to the Jews – for in Him the Law was fulfilled. He was a GOOD stumbling block, that they might stumble into the grace of God.
But in Matthew, we have the devil – always a BAD stumbling block – using Peter’s emotions, his concern for His beloved rabbi, and his natural ideas about the coming Messiah. The devil was stirring up all these things IN PETER to try and get to Jesus. To have Jesus CHANGE perspectives: from seeing events, horrific events, from man’s viewpoint and not God’s.
Friends, IT IS THE SAME TODAY! People are being killed unjustly, oppressed, and people’s emotions are torn this way and that. The media tempts us to view the goings on from man’s perspective, then react emotionally and jump into impulsive actions. Just like Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel. Rev 2:14. That wonderful idolatrous food, those luscious Moabite women!
What can you do? PUT ON LOVE, it’s the perfect bond of unity! Check out Col 3:12-15. Now is the time more than ever to be an instrument of God’s love. Keep seeing things from God’s perspective – for you ARE a CHRISTIAN. Help others — to COME ALIVE!
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