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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 15, 2005 My Best Friend is Satan |
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Frontline Devotion for Tuesday February 15, 2005 By Fritz
Foltz
Matthew
16: 17-23
The first question asked at Baptism is, "Do you renounce all the forces of
evil, the devil and all his empty promises? ¨ Today’s passage reveals
how prevalent those forces are in our world. In many ways I find it one of the
most difficult lessons in the Bible. In one breath Jesus elevates Peter to the
highest position in his inner circle and in the next he calls him “Satan”.
The passage reminds us very dangerous temptations can come from our most trusted
best friends.
By the end of the Gospels we see clearly temptation is not a quiet discussion
with a comical personal devil but a life and death struggle with those very
close to us. It can be advice from a high placed official, Pilate, who tells me
to care for myself, because nobody else will. It can be the urging of my
best friend, Peter, to compromise in order to look good. It can be shouts from a
terrifying crowd ridiculing me for not using power to crush my enemies. And
worse of all, it can be cries from deep inside myself pleading that survival is
more important than obeying God.
Here Jesus’ temptation comes from his best friend, who refuses to accept his
willingness to suffer for God’s Kingdom. Probably he refuses, because he
realizes that means he has to be willing to take up his Cross as well. Jesus
says he is setting his mind not on divine things but on human things.
Each one of us is called to represent God in a difficult time and place, to live
as humans were intended to live- loving those around us and sharing ourselves
with them. That always means some self-denial. Sometimes it means pain and
sometimes suffering and even death.
We Christians are called to overcome the suffering of this world. We are not
into self-flagellation, but we are aware that we shall often have to deny
ourselves and even take that suffering upon ourselves in order to fulfill that
call.
In many ways that first question, "Do you renounce all the forces of evil,
the devil and all his empty promises? ¨ must be read, “Are you ready to
represent God in this world even if it means suffering? "
Let us pray: Gracious Father, grant us the courage to follow Christ
wherever he leads. Enable us to be a blessing to those about us. We pray in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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