Verse:
But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
Thought:
It is a common theme in movies, literature and life. The promise, the
goal, the task at hand in there, ready to be claimed, but then something else is introduced. A
distraction or even a new vision is offered and for a split second commitment to the original goal
is compromised. In retail, it is called the bait and switch, in life it is a form of amnesia.
Hear the Good News, though we live in the human world, with human things, driven by human values and
goals, through Christ we are able to transcend those elements of broken humanity and claim the
restored, redeemed and sustained life offered to us. Yet, even as we follow Christ along our own
journey, there are and will continue to be distractions which will call out to our human nature.
Money, fame, power, yes, these are the biggies, but our vanity, jealousy, desire to consume more
than we could possibly ever need, and ever burning anger can take control of who we are and lead
us on a path that is contrary to our journey with Christ. We must center our day around God, our
relationship with Him and keep our minds set to those things of God.
Prayer:
Gracious God, I am so distracted at times I forget who I am and what I am about. I need You to be my focus. Allow me to overcome the temptations of life, not only during this Lenten season, but throughout my life. Strengthen me, I pray, allow me to interact in the world with joyful obedience in all I do. Thank You for all you have done in my life and all you will continue to do, for I come to You through Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Savior! Amen.
Grace & Peace
David Banks