RE Verse reading–Mark 1:16-18, 8:27-33, 14:26-31,66-72, 16:5-7 (day six)
” ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ He said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’ ” (8:33) It is a subject we don’t like to think about. Suffering. Definitely not a man thing. It calls from us either courage or cowardice. Neither is an easy road. Jesus said it is a God thing. “The Son of Man must suffer”, He said in vs 31. Christians too will have a cross to carry He adds in vs 34. It is a part of the equation that God knows is necessary. If we love Him, if we believe Him we have to “have it in our minds” ie. embrace it with courage, accept it with trust. To resist it is to insist that we know better than God (just as Peter did in this story). “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:2) It is a God thing.
It was for the Joy set before Him that He endured the cross Hebrews says. Some people really just want to deny there should be suffering and some instead focus on the suffering as a means to their salvation. I think both miss the point. Instead I am coming to see (by His Grace alone) the beauty of God in the whole plan…. including suffering. This world is broken/painful but Isaiah says “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. “Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.
Father, may it be so. May you grant everyone who reads this such a steadfastness of mind that no matter what comes we look to/at only You. Give us eyes like our savior to see the Good You are always doing even when we feel overwhelmed with darkness. Keep us in Perfect Peace by Your Grace. We trust you!!