Have in mind the Concerns of God
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Mark 8:33)
What was Peter’s crime? The same apostle who has just been commended and celebrated is now criticized and castigated. He swung from being the spirit-filled rock upon which the Lord would build His church, to being a detestable spokesman of Satan. He excited his master Jesus when he confessed, “You are the Christ”, then he annoyed us when he began to reprimand his Master Jesus over the imminent suffering. Can the same man be Spirit-filled in the morning, and demon-possessed in the afternoon? It seems. What was Peter’s problem? This question is answered in the awakening statement from Jesus: ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God’; in other words, ‘You are not on the side of God, but of men’ and ‘Your thoughts don't come from God but from human nature!’ (Mark 8:33b NIV, RSV, GNB).
Truth be told, many times we have in mind the concerns of God. But when pain or suffering come close, our minds run to human concerns – of health, safety and prosperity here on earth. So was the concept of ‘Messiah’ – a ruler that would restore Israel’s glory, reigning on David’s throne in Jerusalem, to alleviate their suffering and subservience under imperial or colonial rulers. Peter and his colleagues must have been caught up in this mentality. But God had a much bigger vision, a much bigger scope of concerns – the salvation of all who believe, from all nations in all time, and the Messiah could only achieve this by passing through the valley of deathly suffering. Jesus and Peter clashed so hard, their relationship could easily have ended; but that was not the purpose of the insulting rebuke, ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ Instead, after the explanation Peter humbled himself to understand the mission better.
Sister, brother, have in mind the concerns of God – set your mind on God’s will, His values and purposes, and what pleases Him. The things that people think are important and the things that feel humanly pleasant can end one in fellowship with Satan. Think of today’s apostles and church leaders who get caught up scandals of money, sex and power – these are human concerns, pleasing to the body. Others, like Peter, would avoid the rough and tough path – the narrow and hard road that involves those uncomfortable spiritual disciplines, yet they want to be seen as powerful; some even turn to witchcraft! What about at your level, what are those things that draw you away from God? To all such worldly-minded disciples Jesus would say, ‘Get behind me Satan!’ In intentional prayer with fasting and solitude, we divert our minds from human concerns to the things of God. May the Lord give you grace for this discipline.
God bless you all.