Beyond Common Sense

(Just a quick personal note: June has been crazy busy, actually starting at the end of May with a wonderful visit with our son and family. Can’t get enough of those grandkids! Then our daughter flew to SD to see her older brother, taking her oldest son with her. So, we enjoyed having the other two boys for a few days. Next, VBS, another family visit, and this Wednesday I head to St. David’s Christian Writers’ Conference! AND THEN, three wonderful days away with dear hubby! Ah, the good ol’ summertime! Hope you all are enjoying the season, perhaps finding some time to step out of the box. 🙂

“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 16:23).

Wow, that must have stung! Here is Peter, already showing his leadership among the disciples, called Satan by his LORD. Ouch! And what was his offense? —caring more about the things of this world than the things of God.

What a rebuke! What a challenge! What am I doing? How much of my time is given over to the things of God?

I recently read an excerpt from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Laurence. The gist of it was that we should ALWAYS be mindful of God’s presence. Peter’s problem was HIS understanding as to why Jesus was here on earth. He thought it was time for the Millennial kingdom to begin, a time every devout Jewish person looks forward to. Remember, Jesus had just lauded Peter for his answer that Jesus is the Christ:

“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven’” (Matthew 16:16-17).

How do we “mind the things of God?” Here are some helpful suggestions:

1. Take some time to ask God to show you those places in your life where you tend to think and act like the world.

2. Literally clock your time in an area where you feel you are spending too much time.

3. Change your habits. This is a hard one! When we have “loved” the things of this world for an extended period, it’s one of the hardest habits to break. BUT replace a worldly habit with a good one, LITTLE BY LITTLE. Changing habits takes time, effort, and persistence.

4. Find an accountability partner, someone who can walk with you, confide in, and be honest with!

I hope that gives you comfort and encouragement, especially if you are “minding the things of this world” a little too much in your daily walk. Aren’t we all aching to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant?” There is ALWAYS hope for change until we see Him face to face, and then hope will no longer be necessary! Praise God!