God’s Point Of View

Matthew 16:23  Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

I have often said that Peter is the disciple I most closely align with. Mainly because he and I share the proclivity for putting our foot in our mouth! I asked Skechers to make their shoes mint flavored because they end up in my mouth so often. No answer from them yet…

In today’s passage, Jesus is telling the disciples that he is going to die. Peter does not want to hear that kind of talk and takes Jesus aside and rebukes him. Rebukes him? Peter, you are on your own this time, dude. Even I wouldn’t rebuke Jesus!

Jesus puts Peter in his place pretty quickly and sternly. Then Jesus tells Peter where he went wrong: you see things with your view point, not God’s.

To be fair to Peter, many of us do the same thing. We see things happen that don’t go the way we think they should. Instead of trying to see what God is trying to accomplish through these times, we pout and complain. That leads us to miss out on what God is trying to teach us. And remember, if God wants you to learn a lesson you will learn it the easy way or the hard way.  I know God has had to use his “holy 2x4” on me more than once.

Take a look at your life and see it the way God sees it. Look at your actions, your thoughts, your Christian walk, and see what God wants to address in you. Learn it the easy way or the hard way. Your choice.

Today’s Readings: 2 Samuel. 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16