21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord![a] This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance[b] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21-23 ESV)
Jesus’ priority was to liberate hearts from sin rather than bodies from tyranny.
This scripture and the line above came from a devotional I read this morning. The thought conveyed above really struck me. We can forget that God’s mission is all about the heart and not necessarily about what is happening, socially, nationally or on the worlds stage. Yes, those things are also playing out based on God’s broader plan, but He is focused on the heart of man.
It has been said, “the heart of man is a stony place”, and this is very true. Women, are typically more open to the spiritual. But this is not about the differences in how we are. No, God is continually seeking to soften the stony heart, the errant heart, the wayward heart. Even when the head is in the way, God is tenderly loving our hearts. He is tenderly calling each of us and wants nothing more than for us to turn toward him and away from the world.
In our scripture, Peter was not about to let this man he loved and knew to be the messiah come to harm. But that was Peter’s head and stony heart. God had a different plan indeed. The Christ was sent to be an atoning sacrifice, His blood shed for each of us and that could not change in God’s plan.
Where, today, are you letting your head lead your heart? Listen to your heart.
