Who's plan?
How are you doing in Lockdown 3.0? It continues to be a struggle just doing everyday life and I am the kind of person who needs certain routines to help me!
One of my daily routines is to read from the Bible. I have one of those ‘Bible in a Year’ and each day there is a section from the Old Testament, the New Testament and either a bit of Psalms or Proverbs.
I love reading ‘God’s Story’ annually as it reminds me of who God is, how He interacts with His creation and what my place and purpose is.
This was highlighted again recently when I read about Jesus telling his closest friends (the Disciples) that he was heading to Jerusalem where he would be killed but then raised to life again. One disciple tried to intervene...
“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.’”
Peter is known for speaking before thinking, and here he jumps in trying to safe Jesus. What is more interesting is Jesus’ response. He looks at Peter but speaks to Satan (This name means ‘accuser’ and Satan was a fallen angel and against God).
It is ambiguous, is Jesus speaking to Satan or to Peter, as what Peter said may have reminded Jesus of when he was ‘tempted’ by Satan in the wilderness? However, what is revealed is that the accuser is focused on human plans and not Gods.
There have been times when I have been more concerned about me and my plans rather than what God is after. In those times I have to remind myself of God’s Story and my place in that. Ultimately, I need to yield to God as I want to see His plan being outworked! What about you?
Please check out our live stream service every Sunday at 10:30am, simply go to www.hopebasingstoke.org/livestream
Stay safe & God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader