Today’s scripture: Matthew 16:21-23 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Tommy Chittenden):
What just happened? Stop. Consider again verses 15-20, and then continue with today’s passage (vs. 21-23) and explain what in the world has just happened to Simon Peter? What a stunning turnaround! From blessed to banished, from Simon to Satan, from cornerstone to stumbling block, from mind open to the revelation of God to mind fixed on the things of men.
How is it possible that God could reveal to Peter that Jesus was the Christ, and in the next moment we hear Peter’s distorted concept of what that meant? A distortion so flagrant that “from that time on” (vs. 21) Jesus focused on correcting the misperceptions Peter and the others had about what being a disciple of Christ really means. Such an intrinsic understanding and integration of this reality was vital if the disciples (and this means you and me) were to ever experience life the way God intended.
Somewhere along the pathway of our personal spiritual journey, many of us acquired (through direct teaching, personal study, or some form of osmosis) a set of beliefs or perceptions about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Is it true that relationship with Jesus means our life now takes a painless shape? Have you ever wondered why the “Son of the living God” doesn’t just triumph over all your problems and challenges? Are you ever just flabbergasted that life is a lot harder than we thought it would be as a follower of Christ? After all, someone, somewhere, told us that if we just turned it all over to God, that God would “fix” all that is broken! Have you ever had that well-meaning friend or family member tell you, “Surely God’s will is not that you face or endure (fill in the blank)”?
So Peter takes Jesus aside in order to speak with Him undisturbed, to correct Jesus in private before He could speak anymore to the disciples about this nonsense of suffering and death. Peter had just moments earlier identified Jesus as the Son of the living God. A living God — with a Son to be killed? This simply just shatters the “perception” which Peter believed to be true. Impulsively Peter, like you and me, assert what “our truth” about Christ is what must be true. When our world view takes a hit, like Peter’s just did, we desperately try to reassemble the pieces to avoid the suffering or separation.
After Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Lord said to him, “Blessed are you.” Now He says, “Get behind me Satan.” Earlier He said, “You are Peter (rock) and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Now he says, “You are a stumbling block to me.” Earlier He said, “Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father who is in heaven.” Now He says, “You are not thinking the things of God but the things of men.”
If you and I will do the work of integrating our heart, our sacred heart, with our thinking mind, we will be able to experience and know God’s Truth. Conscious inquiry into confused thinking will provide incredible insights into the Heart of the Creator of the Universe. With focused intention and a desire to know Truth, we can have close, intimate encounters with God. In this way, we can learn how to think “the things of God rather than man.” Perceptions of God, our self and the world change — and we begin to experience life on earth, as it is in Heaven. It can and it does happen.
Thought for the day: In the stillness God speaks through our heart. “How can I tell you My Truth, if you are always insisting on telling me yours? Be still and know!”
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.