Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:22-23
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Reflection: Jesus informed his disciples about his impending suffering and death. Peter thought he was right on track when he tried to talk Jesus out of this mandate. Jesus’s response was a shock to him and a lesson for generations to come. Unknowing to Peter, the devil had infiltrated his thoughts and was using him to become a stumbling block to the fulfillment of the mission of Christ on earth. He only got this understanding when Jesus responded to his statement by rebuking the devil. In the words of Jesus’s rebuke we discover how the devil got into Peter’s mind. The ground was created simply because Peter reasoned after the opinion of men rather than that of God. The devil’s strategy is to get us to reason in the light of the opinion of men. That is when he can use us to achieve his desires. Watch out!
Prayer: Lord help me to reason after divine perspectives and not in the light of the opinions of men!