Get behind me, Satan!

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:31-33‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mrk.8.31-33.niv

When someone tries to rebuke you because they think they know God’s plan for your life better than you do, it’s okay to correct them. 

Jesus had clear boundaries. He took time aside when he needed to get alone with the Father. He had 3 close friends, Peter, James, and John, yet he had to rebuke one of his closest friends and disciples in front of the others. 

Sometimes we have to teach others our boundaries and it may come out as a rebuke. 

Better a rebuke than to forget who you are. You are not what someone else wants you to be. You are as God has already determined you to be. He loves you just as you are and will perfect you in His way not someone else’s way. We learn who we are in God’s Word and through the direction of the Holy Spirit.

When someone is concerned more with what others think over what God thinks, it’s garbage advice. They probably care about you but don’t know you the way God does and may not have His best interests in mind, but their own or in the case of Peter, basic human concerns. Culture and tradition, social status, etc...

To be led by God, we must stay close to the Father following the example of Christ first and foremost. Only by following His example can we know God’s will for our lives. 

Father, in the name of Jesus, draw us close to you by the power of your Holy Spirit. Help us to know you and your will for our lives. Help us to silence every voice but yours, to hear you and love you and obey you whole-heartedly. Be our shepherd. Amen. 

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