He is working good
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Matthew 16:21
Have you ever been in a situation that someone you were close to warned you about upcoming events? Maybe you were the one that needed to let your loved ones know about something you were going to go through? Maybe a surgery with the risk of bad outcome or a trip that was full of unknowns?
In today’s reading, Jesus plainly told His disciples what was going to happen to Him when they went to Jerusalem. He wanted to prepare them for what was coming up. One reason was so that they wouldn’t be surprised, and another was so they would know what to do when it happened. It didn’t go over so well, in fact, the disciples went into complete denial. In fact, one of them, Peter, took Jesus away from the rest of the group and told Him to stop talking that way and that things Jesus foretold would not happen to Him. Even though Peter thought He was doing a good thing, Jesus rebuked him and told him that he was being offensive and that he was only thinking of himself and not the plan of God. Jesus was actually rebuking the spirit behind the words Peter was speaking. When He said: “Get behind Me, Satan!” He wasn’t calling Peter Satan. Jesus knew the real enemy was Satan and that Peter’s idea to tell Jesus to stop talking about the plan of God came from His enemy.
That enemy is still in the world today and continues to bring thoughts and ideas to each one of us that are against the plan and will of God for our lives. He is a destroyer and wants to thwart every plan of God in this world. The good news is that we can learn to recognize his suggestions and rebuke them the same was Jesus did. When the enemy tries to tell you that you are not enough or that you are losing, you can cast that thought out by saying: No, I am more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me. (Romans 8:37) If the enemy tries to tell you that God is not going to be there for you this time? You respond with “He will never leave me nor forsake me!” (Hebrews 13:5) You have the promises of God available to you in the scriptures to keep them in your heart and mind. Use those promises as an arsenal against the enemy’s plan to defeat the purpose of why you are alive in this world.
Today I want to encourage you to begin to identify your enemy’s voice in your thoughts and even in the words you speak. If you are thinking or speaking doubt, fear, unbelief and self-destruction, you are following the path of destruction. Speaking those plans will lead you away from the good plan and things that God has for your life. Next, start taking control of your thinking and you life by speaking the truth of God’s word in place of the lies of the enemy. Instead of saying: “Things are looking bad and I am afraid of the outcome,” begin to say “I am so thankful that I can call on my Father in heaven and He is faithful to get me through whatever comes my way.” Don’t deny the things that are happening in the world around you, speak life into them with the Word of God and the good He is working in and through them.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 16:21-28
21 From that time Jesus began to show to 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 the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 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.”
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
The Daily Dose 