“Get thee behind me Satan, for you are not mindful of the things of God” (Matthew 16.23).
These are tough words. Jesus spoke them to Peter, not because he was Satan but because Peter’s mindset reflected the influence of Satan. Some might say also that Jesus was speaking directly to Satan that He saw influencing Peter. Either way, the key idea here is being mindful of the things of God.
What does it mean to be mindful of the things of God? It means to see things from how He sees things. But how do we know how God sees things? What is His heart, His way, His attitude, His intent toward us and our lives? How can we know these things?
By getting to know Him! How do we know Him? By meeting Him every day as we read the Scriptures. As we read and seek to understand it over time, we are molded and crafted by the Holy Spirit to grasp God’s perspective on life. Over time, we increasingly become mindful of the things of God.
We meet Him also everyday through our prayers. As we pray, we seek to be silent before the Lord and listen. Prayer is so much more than making requests. It is being quiet and silent so we can hear God! It is have that inner attentiveness that discerns the presence and way of God as we go through our day. As we seek to hear Him day in and day out, throughout whatever circumstances in life we find ourselves, we will become mindful of the things of God.
We meet God also in the everyday interactions we have with others. As believers, we need a community of faith. How often God comes to us through others through a word of encouragement, or even correction. How often does God touch our lives through people by what they say or do, directly or indirectly. And sometimes these interactions and not even with believers! Through our spirit directed interactions, we become mindful of the things of God.
We meet God as we worship Him. As we bow down and worship, either at home, in church or on the street corners of life, in good times and bad, we experience God. We become mindful of His greatness, His ability beyond our ability, His tender love or His awesome Holiness that brings us to reverence, respect and Holy fear. Our God truly is an awesome God.
And let us not remain unaware. Satan is still at work in the world seeking to keep up from being mindful of the things of God. May we seek to know God more everyday and become mindful of Him and His ways! Our God is good.
To God be the Glory, Holy and Almighty Trinity, One God.
Amen.
