Where do you place the greatest emphasis in your life? It is so very easy to get focused on things from a human perspective and allow our focus to get off of eternal things that are of the utmost importance to God. This happens even when we don’t realize it.
The apostle Peter was a spiritual man. He was a follower of Christ and was learning so much from the teachings of Jesus. His faith had grown to the level that he boldly confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). (That fits most of us.) But when Jesus’ teachings (about His upcoming death) did not align with Peter’s mindset, he was quick to “rebuke” the Lord and try to get the Lord to see things Peter’s way (16:21-22).
Jesus said to His friend, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (16:23). When I, like Peter, am more mindful of my will than the will of Christ, I also can become His adversary. May God help me to keep focused on eternal things!