Right Perspective

SCRIPTURE:
Mark 8:33 NKJV - 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."

OBSERVATION:
Is it possible for you and me to be in the same place as Peter? Can we be used and influenced by Satan without being demon-possessed? The answer may surprise you! YES!

You may be thinking, I will skip this devotional. I have to admit it hits close to home. Let’s look at why Jesus said what He said to Peter and what we can learn from it.

Of course, it is important to understand the context of Jesus’s statement. The chapter begins with the feeding of the four thousand. Once again, Jesus showed that He has power over the natural world. He is a great provider who meets people’s physical needs. He was compassionate toward them. He did not want to send them home hungry. There was a greater need. Something greater than the physical was at stake. It was spiritual.

The people wanted a Messiah, but not in the way Jesus would come. They were looking for a political leader who would break the yoke of Roman bondage, not the yoke of bondage to sin. They were focused on the things of “men,” not the things of “God.”

Jesus warned the disciples not to be deceived by the “Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod,” both leaders of the day. One was physical, and the other was spiritual. Both had the wrong perspective. They were focused on the things of “men.”

Jesus shows His desire for men to have their eyes opened to salvation through the healing of the blind man. Afterward, He asks the disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” It truly was the question of the day and still is!

Peter’s reply came from spiritual insight: “You are the Messiah.” Yet Peter mistook what He had said to mean “the things of men.”

Jesus said He was indeed the Messiah, the suffering servant who would be crucified and rise again. This was the work of “God.” It was a greater plan than merely being a political leader who would save men from tyranny. It would be the result of the “suffering servant.” He will return as the “King of kings!”

Here is where we get to the answer to whether we can be in the same place as Peter. Yes, Peter, who had received “spiritual insight” about the Messiah, did not like the fact that He had to suffer.

Peter then hears the words we don’t want to hear, “Get behind me, Satan!” When we focus too much (there is a need) on the things of men rather than on the things of God, we are just like Peter.

We need to be careful and remember that the state of our world today is not so much the result of bad, evil, or immoral people, but of SIN and lost people. It’s a symptom of a greater problem! We don’t need a reformation of holiness (though it is required); we need the salvation of Jesus! We need the eyes of the blind opened to see Jesus, the Savior of the world. The result will be peace, joy, and righteousness.

APPLICATION:
Let us not focus on the world’s symptoms but on the cause: SIN! We have the answer, as Peter did. “Who do men say that I am?” The Messiah, the SAVIOR of the WORLD. The world is lost, and we have the answer! Remember, the evil, immoral, and wretched things that happen today are the result of SIN. Love the sinner, hate the sin! Preach the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation!

Today, let us not focus on the things of “men” but on the things of “God.”

PRAYER:
Jesus, help me today to focus on YOUR plan, the plan of salvation for all who would come! When I grow weary of the day's tasks, please give me YOUR heart. None should perish, but that all would be saved!