Thought #39 — What is that up ahead?

Renato Cardoso's Blog

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Thought #39 — What is that up ahead? Posted: 18 Jul 2014 11:38 AM PDT Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.   (Jesus turned to Peter and said:) Get out of my way, Satan! You are like a stone on My path to make Me stumble, for you are thinking like a human being and not like God. Matthew 16.23 Jesus used the expression “Get out of My way, Satan!” more than once. In the original text, the words He used were “Get behind Me, Satan!” —This is an important detail because it has to do with position. Satan positions himself ahead of us — neither beside nor behind, but ahead of us, like a stone in our way to make us stumble. He wants to block our way, divert us from the path, stop us from advancing, and make us blind so we can’t see what is further ahead. How many times have you felt that your way was blocked? How many times have you stumbled in your projects and plans? How many times have you given up trying and turned away from a path into a worse one? How many times have you stopped in the way when you were so close to winning, but you could not see how close you were? You did not see anyone with horns and a pitchfork in his hands, but you can rest assured that he was there. That is not fantasy or a figment of imagination. Jesus alerted us about the creature who is His nemesis. Therefore, if the devil does not exist, then Jesus was either crazy or a big liar. Ignoring the existence of the devil and his mission of blocking our way is to discredit everything else that Jesus said. Now, see how Satan used Peter to try to make Jesus stumble: by making him think like a man and not like God; which means to say that one of the devil’s strategies is to make you think like a simple human being and not like God. Do you perceive now, even more so, the importance of absorbing the Thoughts of Jesus? To think like a simple human being, no matter how intelligent you are, won’t take Satan out of your way; but when you start to think like God, Satan and all the obstacles will get behind you. Application: Do not exaggerate the devil’s importance, but on the other hand, do not underestimate him. Be a friend of Jesus to overcome this enemy. All by yourself, as a mere human, you will not make it. Has anyone ever made you feel ridiculous for believing in the existence of the devil? Have you been taught to ignore him, as if he did not exist? Have you ever felt a supernatural opposition on your path? Why do you believe that thinking like a human may be the devil’s best strategy? Think about it and leave your comment.