READING: Matthew 16, Mark 8, Luke 9:18-27
TEXTS AND APPLICATION: Yesterday’s devotion was a reminder that our words reflect our heart. Today’s devotion takes us in the same direction, though with a more dramatic application and picture.
The day was a good day for Simon Peter. He didn’t always have those, but this day was one. Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, and Simon Peter got it right: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). He got it right, though, not because he was so brilliant, but because God the Father directed him: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 16:17). Simon listened to God and then spoke what God had given him. It was indeed a good day.
Some time later, Jesus began talking about His coming death, and Peter did not like those words. In fact, he rebuked the Lord — to which Jesus spoke these strong words: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matt. 16:23). In his attempt to dissuade Jesus from the cross, Peter had become the voice of the enemy. The same man who had previously spoken the words of the Father had temporarily listened to the wrong voice. This day was not one of Simon’s better days.
Here’s what we learn from these texts: out of the same mouth can come the words of God and the words of Satan. Sometimes on the same day. Sometimes in the same conversation. Sometimes, even, in the same sentence.
Monitoring our words must be an ongoing, Spirit-led, Word-informed process.
ACTION STEPS: Be keenly aware today of any tendency to speak something that is more from the enemy than from God. Think and pray before you speak.
PRAYER: “God, forgive me when my words reflect Satan more than You. I want to say only what You give me today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9:28-62