Satan's Agenda

Mark 8:33

But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Yeshua had just reveal to His disciples that He was facing imminent suffering and death at the hands of the religious leaders. This was His purpose for coming to earth, wasn't it? Peter, out of concern for his Friend and Teacher, pulled Yeshua aside and rebuked Him. Our Lord rebuked satan who had motivated Peter to do this.

However, it is what the Messiah said that really gripped my attention. "You are not mindful of the things of God, but of men."

Beloved ones, satan's agenda is to cause us to take our eyes of our God-given purpose and mission. The devil, according to the meanings of the Greek word used here, does not "understand, care for, or direct the mind to" the things of God.

He does not care for Bible study, fasting, prayer, teaching the Word, helping the poor, evangelising, living in holiness before Yah, true worship, etc. He will do everything in his power to stop us from engaging in the things of God. We must discern satan's activities, by the insight of the Holy Spirit.

The adversary of our souls will use legitimate things and people we love to keep us from doing the things that will please Yahweh. For example, your loved ones may, out of concern, disapprove of you going fasting for a few days, for health reasons, despite the Lord has impressed upon you to do it. You may find much more housework to do than you anticipated and you end up not spending quiet time with Yah. You may go to social media to check one thing and end up spending hours, then have no appetite or energy to study the Word. You may go on a mission to evangelise and suddenly get a call that your child is sick. These are just a few examples of how the trickster may distract us from the things of God.

Let us be like Christ whose sense of awareness was so sharp, that He did not, for a second, consider the proposal coming from Peter's lips. Martha tried to get Mary to help her, which is a legitimate need. However, Yeshua commended Mary for choosing that good part that would remain with her.

Let us be passionate about the things of God and be aware of the ways the adversary seeks to distract and pull us away from those things.

Yah bless!

D. L. N.

July 23, 2020