Mark 8:31-33

“But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’” vs. 33

In a very short time Peter had become the leader of the disciples. He had believed the good news of God proclaimed by Jesus and had committed himself to his mission. But there was a problem! Peter believed that he knew the scope of the messiah’s mission better than Jesus did–and he wasn’t at all shy about pointing out where Jesus had gone astray. And in Peter’s words Jesus heard Satan speaking, the same adversary he’d encountered in the wilderness. We really can’t be too hard on Peter. Countless followers of Jesus have run into the same issue. We try to recalibrate the message of Jesus to fit the culture and the times. For the sake of being relevant we move away from the clear message of the cross, and propose that our congregations become more involved in social or political issues. Even worship services are tainted by their pastors’ movements to the right or the left in an effort to be the “Church of what’s happening now.” Jesus has entrusted to his Church a gospel that has everything to do with our relationships to God, neighbor, and creation. We are called to love unconditionally and to serve sacrificially, and put aside our obsessions with wealth, power, and privilege. And as we lose our lives for Jesus’ sake, we will find them.

Thought for the Day: Where do I get off the track in my discipleship?