Getting ready for next practice, I came across the verses in Matthew 16 where Jesus tells Peter how blessed he is for realizing who Jesus is. He tells Peter that He will build His church on him. That would be pretty cool. Then, just a few verses later, this happens:
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23 NIV 1984)
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23 NIV 1984)
This verse reminds me of two things. One, I'm not the only one who has a great moment, followed by a really bad one. Also, the enemy tries to distract us from the things of God by getting us to focus on the world around us. While it is important to be aware of our surroundings, Jesus and His kingdom should be our focus.
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