The things of God

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”                                   Mark 8.33

Jesus had been telling His disciples how He must suffer many things, how he would be rejected by the religious leaders and He would be killed. He would rise again after three days.

The disciples could well have been astonished at these revelations. This was the man they loved and admired. He did so many amazing and wonderful things. How could people possibly turn against Him?

Peter was moved to the point of rebuking Him, I imagine in a rather bullish way saying something like “No, they will never do this to you. As long as we are around, as long as I’m around, I will protect and defend you.”

Then it was Peter’s turn to receive rebuke. How might he have felt to be called “Satan”? Would he have been more incensed, and more moved to remonstrate, to say, “You’ve got it all wrong. I want to save you from any danger”? Or would he have heard, and heeded, Jesus’ words which indicated a difference between the “things” of men and the “things” of God.

I am reminded of God’s words through Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  (Isaiah 55.8) Peter’s thoughts in this instance were not in line with God’s. And any words he spoke or actions he may have proposed were very likely not in accord with God’s “things”.

I think many believers may well have been tested by events and actions that do not satisfy human needs. I believe Jesus experienced first hand the dilemma that confronts us when the things of God run contrary to our human wishes. In the garden, when faced with the immanence of His capture, persecution and death, Jesus cried out to the Father, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” (Matt. 26.39) In His humanity He did not want to face what lay ahead. Fortunately for us He completed His outcry with the words “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

I do not know what is to come in the remainder of my life. I do know that there have been dark patches in the past, times I would rather not have experienced. But I did experience them, and I believe God brought me through. Those times do not trouble me now, I can even see how God worked for the good in and through them. This realisation did not come to me immediately, but it did come, and I see something of God’s ways of working.

So, for me, the future is a matter of trusting God. I cannot control what is to come, but I can give myself into His keeping. I can choose to believe, despite what circumstances might suggest, that He has a plan for my good, a plan to prosper me and not to harm me.

The circumstances Jesus outlined for His disciples may well have alarmed or even terrified them. If I am ever faced with adverse, maybe frightening, prospects, I pray I will have the courage to give myself to the things of God and not hanker or beg for the things of men.

Almighty God,

I address You thus in truth – You are indeed all-mighty. I give myself anew into Your all mighty care. I surrender fully to Your plan for my life. I truly want to go the way You would have me go. If the journey should challenge or even seem frightening at times, I ask You to give me calmness, courage and renewed conviction in you.                                         Amen.