04/07/2022
Word of the Day by Harvey Wittmier
‘Satan, get behind me. For you are not mindful of the things of God but of the things of men’. Mark 8:33
We are pummeled daily with news, alerts, tweets, and human perspectives from the digital information age. Much the information, especially in mainstream news, is counter to the Word of God. This overwhelming infusion of information can easily distract and derail a believer’s faith and focus in Christ. The result of continually consuming mass information is reflective of the time Peter resisted Jesus’ announced departure. Peter did not want Jesus to depart and fulfill His destiny at the cross. Peter was infused with natural information that was inconsistent with God’s purposes for both Jesus and Peter. Jesus said to Peter, ‘Satan, get behind me. For you are not mindful of the things of God but of the things of men’. Mark 8:33 NIV
Jesus’ words were not so much to Peter, who was being influenced by the natural mind partnering with the demonic realm, as to Satan. He was targeting Satan, who would tempt Jesus to agree with Peter’s natural perspective. Satan did not and does not know everything, but he knew that Jesus had declared himself to be….the Son of God, the Messiah.
Peter was not ‘mindful of the things of God but of the things of men’. To be mindful in context is to be earnestly disposed in a certain direction; to set your affection upon something. Peter’s mind and his heart were disposed in the wrong direction, thereby being in agreement with Satan’s strategy. Peter did not yet fully understand the strategies of neither the enemy nor Jesus’ greater purpose. Jesus’ words were both a warning and an exhortation to get Peter’s mind on the things of God. The things of God in this context were the call and mission of Jesus’ destiny on the cross and the escape plan through the resurrection. But Peter was mindful, at that point, of the things of men…the natural, the soul perspective rather than the spirit perspective.
This is both warning and exhortation……get your mind on Me says the LORD!! As we enter the celebration of Jesus entrance into Jerusalem, the Passover, the Cross and the Resurrection let us be mindful of the things of God. Let not the pummeling of daily digital information distract or derail you from God’s perspective, alignment, and purposes for today. His purposes for you don’t always look easy or attainable. But in your weakness He can be your discernment to perceive of what He is doing. And He can be the strength to walk out your purpose in this season.
