Vol. 18 No. 04 | January 25, 2016
Once Jesus was talking to His disciples and began to explain to them that He about to enter a time when He was going suffer, be rejected, killed and then rise on the third day. From the disciple’s perspective He as gaining influence and power so they could not imagine things turning in that direction, so Peter speaks up tells Him, “Never, Lord! That shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:21-22)
When I read that I cannot help but think of the times when the Lord has spoken to me through His word, or after praying I sense His leading me in a direction I prefer not to go, or when I see a person behave in a particular way that seems beneath me, and I responded with, “Never, Lord!”
Like the time years ago when it seemed pretty obvious that the Lord was leading me into full time ministry. “Never, Lord! Do you realize what that might cost me?” Then, I went into full time ministry.
Like the time several years after having been in full-time ministry for a while when it seemed clear that transitioning to preaching seemed to be God’s plan for me, “Never, Lord! Do you realize how difficult that will be for me?” Then, I started preaching.
There were the times before I was married when I would see a husband behave in a manner toward his wife that did not seem appropriate and I would say, “Never, Lord! I won’t ever treat my wife that way.” Then, I got married.
There were those times before we had children when I would watch parents and proudly announce, “Never, Lord! I won’t ever be that kind of a Dad.” Or, “My child will never act like that!” Then, we had children.
I can remember times when the decisions and direction of the church where I happened be serving went against what I thought was best and I would say, “Never, Lord! This is not what You want, is it?”
It is one thing simply to remember those times, but it is even more significant when you read what Jesus said to Peter after his emphatic, “Never, Lord!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:23, NIV)
If I understand what Jesus is saying to Peter, and to me when I say, “Never, Lord!” it is a pretty serious comment. “You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Ouch! I just thought I was expressing my opinion. I never thought that I might be a stumbling block to Jesus. Never meant to be, nor do I want to be.
The second part of the statement may be even more convicting, and probably more accurate. Although my intentions are to have in mind the “concerns of God” there is no doubt my interests are more often than not “human concerns.” More specifically, my concerns. I want what I want. So, I pray…
Father, forgive me for all the times I have been more interested in human concerns…my concerns…than I have been in Your concerns. I repent of my selfishness. I will try to do better in the future.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.