Make Up Your Mind

But make sure you make it with the right mind.

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16.21-23

Jesus' idea about what should happen to Him in Jerusalem did not sit well with Peter. He had, apparently, constructed some other scenario concerning what would transpire, and so he took Jesus aside and began to rebuke the Lord. Peter explained to Jesus that His view of matters was not correct, since it did not harmonize with his own. Jesus would just have to think better of the matter, that's all.

But Peter was thinking like a man would, and not like God. Peter did not prefer the way of sacrifice and suffering, for no man does, apart from Christ. Jesus left no doubt in Peter's mind concerning the source of such misguided thinking. Jesus had spoken plainly, but when men prefer their own, self-satisfying agendas to the revealed Word of God, they can be bold, but foolish, in talking their way around simple obedience.

Although clearly well-meaning in wishing to propose a cheerier course than Jesus had outlined, Peter actually became an instrument of Satan by thinking a man’s way rather than according to the Word of God. He needed to “get behind” Jesus and follow Him in faith, nothing doubting.

We must discipline our minds in all things to submit to the Word of God. It may not always seem the reasonable thing to do – because we cannot square its teaching with our experience or logic – but it is always the Word of God. Our duty is to get behind it and order all our steps accordingly.

We must make up our mind in all things to think with the mind of Christ, and not our own.

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