“Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah (Peter), for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”
“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'” Matthew 16: 17 & 23
I went to bed last night with hope. I awoke, tried to breath through my nose, said a few words out loud then walked to bathroom. It wasn’t looking good! The Bible says, ‘Hope differed makes the heart sick.” And I was! This is day 6 of a nasty cold, or something, that I just can’t seem to shake. You know… and you remember… because you have been here too! My morning ritual confirmed that I am not out of the woods yet! What I WANTED and what I GOT are 2 different things!
I can think of nothing more humbling than illness. When healthy, life is good and choices are endless. Illness brings with it doubt, weakness, disappointment and a strange sense of failure. I am reminded that I am NOT that strong and that, in reality, I can fix almost NOTHING. I am a finite being, capable of being destroyed by a microscopic parasite! But… what is this HOPE thing that I cling too?
The 2 verses above we spoken to Peter by Jesus within 6 verses of each other. The first one is a blessing that God had revealed something to Peter that Peter could NEVER have received on his own. The 2nd one is a curse, received the exact same way! And Peter is confused. 1 moment dominated by God… the next… by satan. Living on the sick and dying Earth, you know that feeling too! But don’t get depressed! There is MORE to the story!
When I am not well I become introspective. I talk to God more, ask more and seek more. I thank God for family and friends who lay no more pressure on me than to ‘take it easy and get rest.’ That ‘time and God are on MY side.’ As I read and listen for God’s voice, I CAN hear that He is trying to tell me something. So I read and listen even more. The red letters AFTER Jesus says these 2 statements to Peter give me a clue as to what He wants me to see.
Matthew 16:24 says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.“ In Peter’s case he literally DID… being hung on a cross upside down! The bold challenge of Matthew 16:25 brings the harshness of the decision to my own doorstep! Jesus goes on to say, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” If Jesus is serious, then I realize He isn’t interested as much in healing my sickness as He is in seeing me DEAD! SHOCKING stuff!
There is nothing more I want than to FEEL better. But I hear God whispering to me that ’feeling better’ is overrated! He has a MUCH better life for me if I will just quit being so whiny and selfish and turn it ALL over to Him. He reminds me AGAIN that He is NOT interested in a Co-op. He wants a TOTAL INVASION! This sickness is showing me that what I’ve GOT is NOT what God wants me to HAVE! But what my Flesh WANTS… is NOT what I am going to GET! After listening to Him, that is OK with me!
