Daily Devotion – August 26, 2020 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison
Matthew 16:21-28
16:21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”
16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
16:25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
16:26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
16:27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
16:28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Peter is usually the quickest to respond to whatever is going on. We like that about him.
This week’s story is no different. He dives right in. As he seeks to “support” Jesus and prevent bad things happening to him, Jesus lets him know such avoidance of confrontation and death will actually obstruct his mission.
The work of doing our part in God’s kingdom is REAL WORK, not all sweetness and light. But those who make the sacrifice and do the work will be repaid. What have we sacrificed to help get the real work of God’s kingdom done? And how do we even know we are engaged in that work? After all, Peter thought he was doing the right thing, and Jesus told him he was doing the work of the Tempter by urging Jesus to avoid his mission.
Where have we faced confrontation and death for the sake of God’s kingdom being outstretched to all people? Have we been arrested? Have we been persecuted? Well, probably not if we are white and live in North America. Unless we have taken up causes favoring those who are systematically left out and marginalized. Have we been belittled or shunned for laboring in God’s vineyard? Do we even know which vineyard is God’s?
It is certainly a good moment, when life is turned on its head, to meditate, have conversations, and pray about what path God wants us to be on, which vineyard God would assign us to, and what work we should take up rather than obstruct. How will you consider these questions in the coming weeks?
Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us work to do that we can take up. Help us not to thwart your work. Help us to listen for our calling. Amen.
