It is possible to know who God is but still not be on board with what God is doing. Are you a Christian but not on board with what God is doing around you?

The most significant question of all times for everyone was asked by Jesus: “Who do you say that I am?” How we answer this question means the difference between heaven and hell. Peter nails it by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And even Jesus gets excited by how this uneducated fisherman got it exactly right!

But the next moment, Jesus calls him Satan and to get away from Him! (Matt 16:23). I believe these two events were placed back to back for a reason. I believe God is teaching us that it is possible to know who God is as Peter did but still not be on board with what God is doing as Peter wasn’t!

Peter knew who Jesus was. But he wanted that factor to serve him and his kingdom and not Jesus’ kingdom. Why did Jesus call Peter Satan? Because Peter didn’t want to see Jesus die (v. 21). With Jesus death, Peter’s earthly dreams and aspirations would die with Him. He would no longer be able to enjoy independence from Rome and his nation be a proud nation again.

He believed Jesus to be the Christ because it was beneficial to accomplishing his own will. In other words, Peter never died to his own dreams and aspirations. He never gave up his will and accepted the will of God on himself….

Do you find it surprising then that right after this, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”? (v. 24)

How troubling this is! If this is true, which I believe it to be, most church-going people in America are not saved! Either that, or they have not come to a full understanding of what following Christ truly means. Aren’t most of them acknowledging Jesus, and genuinely so, to serve their own needs? We want God to serve our own will and meet our own needs rather than submitting to God’s will and plan, which led to all of the disciples’ demise… (physically anyway)

This is troubling… Have mercy on us O Lord, sinners! Have mercy. Let us see you as you are and see that your plan is much much greater than our own life, our family’s well-being or even our country’s well-being! Amen.

PH