Have you ever tried intervening in somebody’s life with positive intentions and then be called the devil? I bet it made you feel like trying to go out of your way to help somebody never again. Seriously, that is the sentiment; however, we know better than that. I mean, even Peter, the disciple that was called the “rock” was called the devil– and that was by Jesus! But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. (Mark 8:33) Before we get into how untactful this action was by Jesus, to call one of his dear friends and closest followers “Satan”, I think we need to understand the context of why Peter’s good intention was actually a devilish intervention. That in turn, will allow some folks who happen to border on the side of nagging/helicopter/tiger parent deal with your devilish acts of intervention. I know it’s easy for me, a single person to make such broad stroking comments, but I teach your kids, I know exactly what you’re doing to push them away as you cling for dear life in every intervention you carry out in their lives. So, let’s get back to Peter. Jesus was telling the people who were following him that miracles and blessings are great and wonderful, but he also began telling his followers that what awaited was trial, suffering and death. This is obviously the fastest way to lose followers. In fact, the Son of God should not have to die– that’s what an undignified Peter said. He told Jesus, “shut your mouth, you can’t say that, you’re God!” Jesus called Peter Satan. Mind you there was nothing wrong with what Peter said to Jesus. Peter cared about Jesus and had good intentions in calling Jesus out. Jesus obviously thought otherwise. I’m sure that when we flip the script, your good intentions for your kids lead to being cursed out by them. Then you have the string of bad decisions that normally your kid wouldn’t elect; however since you are the devil and you advocate good behavior, that must be bad and bad behavior must be good and your once obedient child is now maleficent and it was all because you were devil in their eyes. Here’s the part we didn’t talk about: Jesus says to Peter, “you’re not setting your mind on the things of God.” It’s so easy to forget that in our involuntary interventions to “save” the people around us. When we “intervene” in the lives of people, do we have the things of God in our minds? Or are we setting our eyes on the “things of man?” The question is not your motivation, because it’s your love for the other that motivates you, but rather its the outcome you desire for the person you love that is not of the mind of God. Let’s think today about the goal of our love for other people in the midst of our interventions within their lives.
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