Aug. 2nd
Matt 16:23
You have to actually read verse 22 to get the whole context of what is going on here. When I first read this verse as a new believer, I felt bad for Peter. Why was he a stumbling block to Jesus? To me it seemed he was trying to help his friend. However, the issue was that Peter was trying to interfere with God's plan. Peter wanted his desires and will to be done for Jesus. Not God's will.
Have you ever felt that God has a plan for you or a desire from God and you ignored those plans or delayed them? God's plan doesn't go by humanity's...thank goodness!!! I mean really, do we really want our ways and plans over God's? How often do we look back and say, "Yeah God knew what he was doing?"
Some people come up with their own version of the Messiah and "coming to God" on their own terms. It can't be done. To reject the cross is to reject Christ. Christ calls us to share in His sufferings. In the very next verse, vs. 24, Christ tells us we must deny ourselves. This seems to be a theme in our devos this week. So we must be careful and not be a stumbling block as servants of Christ. We must accept his plans.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". I know I need to be careful of the times I might be a stumbling block to God and His glorious ways.
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