Scripture
22But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him16:22 Or began to correct him. for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Matthew 16:22-23
Observation
Jesus had just commended Peter a few minutes earlier for receiving the revelation about who Jesus really was! Now Jesus was rebuking Peter for being a pawn of the Devil in trying to tempt Jesus to forgo the cross. Remember, the Devil had tried to tempt Jesus to the same thing back in the wilderness in Matthew 4 to no effect. So, now he was trying a different tactic. He came in the guise of one of Christ’s closest friends and disciples. The first disciple to truly understand who Jesus was would be the perfect disciples to dissuade Him from following God’s will to the Cross. It was a genius plan and though Jesus saw through the charade too often we fall for it.
Application
Satan almost never comes dressed in red with a pitchfork and horns. In fact, he comes dressed like a friend, a confidant, a spiritual person of authority who has ministered to us in the past. The Apostle Paul calls them out, “13These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.” (2 Cor. 11:13-15). In his fictional work, The Screwtape Letters, author C.S. Lewis writes, “I assume that devil will appear big, loud, and abrupt. But often he is the soft voice, the gentle touch, and path of least resistance.” Think about how many times we have set out to obey God and had a friend, co-worker, or family member talk us out of it because it would require too much sacrifice, someone else could do it better, maybe next year would be a better time. So, how can we know if the devil is coming as a friend to keep us from God’s perfect will? Does what they are saying line up with what God has already said? Peter heard Jesus say He would be tortured and die for all and then contradicted this by suggesting an easier path. Nine times out of ten if we are being tempted to do less, do it later, or not do it all then it’s not God, it’s the devil in disguise.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for reminding me that sacrifice is the way of the Christ follower. There’s no way around it and yet my flesh looks for excuses or reasons to not follow through with what You’ve called me to do. Delayed obedience, partial obedience, it’s still disobedience if it’s anything less than all of me following through. I pray for a fresh discernment. You’ve said in scripture that even those who are close to You will be deceived in the last days. I don’t want to fall for the Devil’s lies dressed up in familiar or familial packaging. Let me say with You, get behind me Satan so I can move forward into Your divine plan for my life. God, You got my attention! As I am finishing my prayer the coffee shop is playing "You're The Devil In Disguise" by Elvis Presley. Clearly You want me to pay attention to today's lesson.
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