24 July 2014 “I Don’t Want Any Part of That”
Matthew 16:23
“Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap for me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Jesus is speaking to Peter when he said this. It sounds harsh, but he’s simply pointing out to Peter that God’s will is the most important thing, and anyone who doesn’t pursue that is no different than the Enemy.
When I use my human perspective, that is contrary to Scripture, I become an ambassador of Satan too.
“You are seeing things merely from a human point of view...” Ideas and thoughts that do not compare correctly to God’s Word is what the Enemy uses. And this kind of thinking is harmful to myself and to others.
For example, parents who use the world’s view to advise their children about their future are setting a trap for their kids and being a tool for the Enemy whether they intend to or not. It’s important to remember that the American Dream is based on human understanding of what people should aspire to be. Having the most and making the most are guidelines man has set up. In God’s economy, we live contently with what we have, and we share what we have. God doesn’t require that we indebted ourselves in order to have what the modern world says we should have. There’s nothing wrong with wealth, but there’s also nothing wrong with contentment. Some people really have it backwards when they think they’ll be content after they attain a certain amount. But how ‘bout be content first and then see what God blesses you with instead?
1 Timothy 6:6-10
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
“...Not from God’s...” There is a clear distinction in this verse that God’s view is different from people’s. And God’s view doesn’t lead to “traps.”
In no way do I want to get trapped by the Enemy or be a tool he can use to trap someone else. Living a life, saying words, and thinking thoughts that disregard God’s expressed will found in His Word is what Satan does. And I don’t want any part of that.
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us your Word so we don’t have to set traps and be trapped into our human understanding. Thank you for free will so that I can choose to live how you prescribe. Help us to teach our kids diligently what Scripture says instead of going on with the crowd in mindless succession. You are great and greatly to be praised. And I want to me and instrument you can use, not a tool of the Enemy! I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Matthew 16:23
“Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap for me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Jesus is speaking to Peter when he said this. It sounds harsh, but he’s simply pointing out to Peter that God’s will is the most important thing, and anyone who doesn’t pursue that is no different than the Enemy.
When I use my human perspective, that is contrary to Scripture, I become an ambassador of Satan too.
“You are seeing things merely from a human point of view...” Ideas and thoughts that do not compare correctly to God’s Word is what the Enemy uses. And this kind of thinking is harmful to myself and to others.
For example, parents who use the world’s view to advise their children about their future are setting a trap for their kids and being a tool for the Enemy whether they intend to or not. It’s important to remember that the American Dream is based on human understanding of what people should aspire to be. Having the most and making the most are guidelines man has set up. In God’s economy, we live contently with what we have, and we share what we have. God doesn’t require that we indebted ourselves in order to have what the modern world says we should have. There’s nothing wrong with wealth, but there’s also nothing wrong with contentment. Some people really have it backwards when they think they’ll be content after they attain a certain amount. But how ‘bout be content first and then see what God blesses you with instead?
1 Timothy 6:6-10
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
“...Not from God’s...” There is a clear distinction in this verse that God’s view is different from people’s. And God’s view doesn’t lead to “traps.”
In no way do I want to get trapped by the Enemy or be a tool he can use to trap someone else. Living a life, saying words, and thinking thoughts that disregard God’s expressed will found in His Word is what Satan does. And I don’t want any part of that.
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us your Word so we don’t have to set traps and be trapped into our human understanding. Thank you for free will so that I can choose to live how you prescribe. Help us to teach our kids diligently what Scripture says instead of going on with the crowd in mindless succession. You are great and greatly to be praised. And I want to me and instrument you can use, not a tool of the Enemy! I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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