GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 9

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

THE HIGH COST OF AVOIDING THE CROSS

(Matthew 16:21-18)

THE FATHER’S PERSPECTIVE

Where had Peter erred in his thinking?  Why did he prove himself to be so fallible?  Christ set the record straight:  “But He turned and said to Peter, “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.”  Peter, the rock, had become a stone over which Christ was tempted to stumble!  Unknowingly, Peter had laid a satanic snare for Christ!  Rather than acting like a disciple of his Master, he had become a tool of the devil!  The  man who spoke so eloquently under the inspiration of the Spirit of Light, now spoke under the compulsion of the spirit of darkness! He who had a revelation from heaven, now had a revelation from hell!

Notice that Christ rebuked Satan, not Peter.  He did not say, “Peter get behind Me!”  Such a rebuke would have made Peter withdraw from Christ’s presence, permanently devastated.  No, Christ saw Peter being used by the devil, and the origin of his suggestion had to be exposed.  Thankfully, though Peter also bore responsibility, he will not be condemned along with the devil.

Christ did not mean that Peter was possessed by Satan.  He meant that Peter’s supposed wisdom and the devil’s plan had coincided.   Incredibly, the devil himself had already given the same advice to Christ!  There on a high mountain, the tempter said to the Son of God, “All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.”  Satan told Christ He could have all the kingdoms of the world without dying.  Now the voice of Christ’s apostle sounded the same as the voice of the devil. 

THE VOICE OF HATE AND THE VOICE OF MISGUIDED LOVE WERE IN UNISON.

Indeed, Satan is able to put ideas into our minds that we think are our own.  So, through deception, the one who had just  been declared to be a rock now became a stumbling block.  The one who was to help Christ build His church now stood in the way of the God-ordained blueprint.

How did this happen?  Christ explained, “You are not setting your mind on God’s interests but man’s.” We should not be surprised that Peter could speak in league with an unholy spirit.  We also have within ourselves that kind of ambiguity, that mixture of good and evil.  We can rejoice in Christ during a church service and moments afterward be mean, filled with anger and venom.  The same mouths that sing the songs of Zion can be used to gossip, demean, and deny Christ.

James marveled at the deceptiveness of the tongue:  “but no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”  (James 3:8-10).   Although in nature the same stream does not send forth both fresh water and bitter, James emphasizes that the tongue has this incredible capacity.

Jesus confronted the suggestion of His beloved disciple just as He confronted the words of Satan when tempted in the wilderness.  Whether a temptation comes from the mouth of an angry devil or the mouth of a loving disciple, the final result is the same. 

In both instances the only appropriate response is:

“Get thee behind Me “ 

Disobedience cannot substitute for obedience, even if done with the highest motives.

*** ***

James 1:19

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

James 4:7

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world: but be  transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.

For God is in heaven, and you on earth;  Therefore let your words be few.

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,  but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord