God’s will be done

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:23-26 From the text, the Lord Jesus Christ was now focused on His upcoming sacrifice on the cross. This plan of God did not sink well to Peter who just made a great declaration about his recognition of who Christ is. His response to God announcing His coming death on the cross was not what he perceived should happen. Peter entertained a concept that was not in line with the word of God even though it was prophesied in the Old Testament that the Messiah will go through suffering and shame by dying on the cross (see Isaiah 53). He did not even consider the promise that though He will die on the cross on the third day He will rise again from the dead. Peter might have expressed what a faithful follower will do to prevent his Master to go through tremendous suffering. But this was contrary to God’s purpose. This is where we at times struggle when our preference for comfort supersedes God’s plan which includes suffering. We sin, just like Peter, when we focus more on self rather than on what God wants. Self-centeredness within should have been crucified since we came to know Him as Lord and Savior and let that sin hanged with Christ on the cross. Our new life in Christ should now be God-centered. This is what Jesus told His disciples after He rebuked Peter. “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” The cross could suggest many things but it will always include denying one self. It never suggests ease and comfort because once you are in Christ, included in His call is the willingness to suffer. “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). So, when tempted to give in to selfish desires, let us ask God to help us resist the temptation so we can accept and follow His agenda for our life. “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com