Not
everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matthew 7:21)
So I'm reading in Mark 8, Jesus tells St. Peter and the other apostles, “The Son of Man must suffer many things . . . and be killed.” And Peter, whom Jesus had already chosen as the first earthly head of the Church (in the parallel passage in Matthew 16) – Peter rebukes the Lord.
You know the story. Jesus then said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan, for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
And I had an epiphany. I realized, if Jesus spoke so harshly to St. Peter, do any of us today – the person in the pew, or the deacon, or pastor, or priest, or bishop, or cardinal . . . . if Jesus spoke in such a manner to St. Peter, do we think Jesus will speak differently to any of us, regardless of our title or position, when we put man’s interests over God’s? Political interests over God’s? Financial interests over God’s? Career interests over God’s? Personal interests over God’s? Friends interests over God’s?
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever – as the Holy Spirit warns us in Hebrews 13:8. And so, we would be wise to fear – from the pew-sitter to the one in the pulpit, even to the one in the paneled office – yes, it is wise to fear lest we do anything to cause Jesus to say to us, “Get behind Me, Satan, for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Our God is still a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Jesus didn't start "The Church of Nice", did He? Sometimes we need a bucket of cold water dumped on us because we are too deadened to the things of God. It shows how much Jesus loved Peter to have spoken such firm and direct words.
You make a great point. It is NOT love to ignore or encourage sin, even if it is politically correct to encourage sin. We have too many false shepherds out there leading God's flock.
loved this one
Thanks, Melanie. I only wish I didn't have to write it. But I get so frustrated with what I see and hear.
Post a Comment