The Importance of the Mind — Part 4

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
Print, Study and Apply

Title: The Importance of the Mind — Part 4 ------------------- Date: 5/17/2002
Keywords: "addiction" "mind"
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: Matthew 16:23*

But [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.

Questions

1. Did Jesus love Peter? If you answered "yes" what is the implication of the statement above? If you answered "no", have you ever rebuked a friend or a loved one? Have you ever been scolded by a parent? Did the scolding prove they didn't love you? Or do you think perhaps the fact they would correct you is proof that they truly did care?

 

2. Can "spiritual" people set their minds on man’s interest and not God’s. If so, what might help them maintain a focus on God and His interests?

 

Practical help

This is the fourth in a series on thinking about thinking. The last three studies dealt with Bible passages that encourage good thinking. Today we are looking at a situation where Jesus rebukes one of His disciples for poor thinking skills. It comes, ironically, immediately after Jesus has blessed Peter for seeing that He is "the Christ, the Son of the living God." In other words, Peter was able to put together that Jesus was God in the flesh.

So let’s analyze the mental slip Peter committed because it is an error all of us at one time or another have (or continue to) commit. If Jesus is in fact God, then it is reasonable to assume He knows what He is doing. Wouldn’t you agree? Nowhere in Scripture will you find where Jesus said the wrong thing. You won’t find Paul or Peter or any of the other New Testament writers having to cover over His verbal blunders. This is not to say that many people, some even claiming to be really intelligent, have disagreed with the sayings of Jesus. I would simply ask them to produce for me their credentials. How do they compare with Jesus Christ’s.

It is always easier to criticize than it is to live an inspirational (let alone perfect) life. One reason you can trust Jesus’ words is because of the life He lived. It’s not an ordinary life. In fact, you will find at times, His words will pierce your heart (in other words, they won’t make you feel good). What He has to say, although truthful, is not always easy to accept and follow. Note as you read the gospels that He never coddles people in order to be popular. Understand that His words are always true and our hearts are sometimes deceitful – never the other way around.

Peter declared Jesus God and then disagreed with His words about what He was going to do and what was going to happen to Him. How smart is that?

It says in verses 21 and 22, "From that time Jesus began to show 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 up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’"

When was the last time you set God straight about how it was going to be? When was the last time you, by your actions of clicking on the porn sites, refused to listen to God’s call on your life to something better and higher? Aren’t you saying in essence to Jesus, "Get with the program Lord, You don’t know what is best for me, so I have to take matters into my own hands. You don’t have my best interest at heart because you deny me things I want."

Have you ever considered that perhaps the origin of our rebellious thoughts actually come from Satan? If Peter couldn’t recognize his voice, do you think we necessarily can or will? The good news is we can trust and follow our Shepherd’s voice. He promises to give us what we need, protect us from our enemies and give us peace. (See Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18). Have a great day!

eXXit homepage
Index of three-minute studies
Copyright 2002 by eXXit
*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."