Yesterday I was on my way to work when a SUV in front of me kept slowing down. First five, then ten then even twenty miles under the speed limit.
I looked at that car, and and said out loud "What's with you, buddy?" Of course he could not hear me, but we do that don't we?
But then something interesting happened; a car just in front of the SUV took the exit last minute and the SUV returned to the normal speed. See, it wasn't the SUV that was causing the problem at all, it was the car in front of it. A car I could not see, and because all I could see was the SUV, that was who I blamed.
Reading Matthew 16 today,
"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
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 16:21-23 (NIV)
Peter loved Christ, yet the enemy used him to attack Jesus. Jesus, however, did not rebuke Peter, but Satan.
Let us pray to be able to see who the real enemy of our souls is. Yes, it's true that people can hurt us, but often, unseen behind the attack, is the real source of evil. And we, as Christians, have the authority to deal with that kind of attack, but only when we see it for what it is.
"...in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." 2 Cor 2:11 (NIV)
