Heartfelt Emotions are Dangerous

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” [Matthew 16.21-23]

Peter was at least genuine in his plea to Jesus, but he was dead wrong.

Peter was operating from a "human point of view." It might accurately be said that Peter was just following his heart. After all, Peter loved Jesus. His emotions were clear in his plea to Jesus, but Jesus made very clear that Peter's emotions were a "dangerous trap."

If ever there was a Kingdom teaching moment for Peter and anyone else who heard this conversation, this was, and is one for sure.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [Jeremiah 17.9]

When doing Kingdom work, we must understand that emotions are from the heart, and no matter how heartfelt, are a dangerous trap. If we are not operating by God's Word and His Holy Spirit, then we are left to our own hearts to lead us, and you see how that worked out for Peter.

Father, help us to know Your Word so that we might know Your will. Help us to know Your Spirit so that we might do Your will.