Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

October 31: Job 22; Mark 7-8

Scripture: Mark 8:31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Observation: Peter heard the struggle but not the victory. Jesus did not deserve such treatment. Peter loved Jesus and did not want to see anything bad happening to him. Jesus recognized Satan’s influence in stirring Peter’s emotions. I would have expected Jesus to say, “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of Satan.” But He said, “the things of man.” Satan was getting Peter to think man-centered thoughts rather than God-centered thoughts.

Application: Satan loves to get me to focus on the struggle rather than the victory. He tries to get me to think man-centered thoughts especially when the God-centered thoughts may include going through hard times. I need to pay attention to everything Jesus says. Words are important especially when they are HIS words!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to carefully listen and to give attention to your every word. Help my thoughts to be God-centered rather than man-centered. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!