As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. (Mark 8:32-34)
Many times, when faced with two choices, we instinctively make decisions based on what is immediately visible; what we can see, touch, hear, feel, or even taste. In other words, we rely on our five senses to guide us. This is precisely why Isaac, a man who had walked with God all his life, ended up blessing the son he had no intention of blessing. His decision was shaped by what he could hear, feel, and taste rather than by divine discernment.
This might not be the perfect example since God ultimately intended for Jacob to receive the blessing. However, God is not treacherous; He could have fulfilled His plan in His own way and time. Yet, as is often the case, man chooses to take matters into his own hands. Imagine if Isaac had simply sought God’s guidance on whom to bless. What if Isaac had secretly called Jacob and blessed him, just as God had intended? Similar to how Samuel secretly went to anoint David? Perhaps Jacob would never have had to flee for his life.
This is why Scripture repeatedly urges us to commit our ways to God so that He may direct our paths. Our perception is often clouded by external factors, but God is the ultimate discerner of thoughts and intentions. He sees beyond physical attributes and outward appearances, current circumstances straight into the heart, the mind, and the soul and future events.
Remember when the eleven Apostles needed to choose someone to replace Judas Iscariot? They didn’t rely on their own judgment-they prayed. The criteria for selection were strict, and from a natural perspective, either of the candidates could have been chosen. But the apostles had grown in wisdom and understood an important truth: while man can see the outward appearance, only God knows the heart. Recognizing their own limitations, they did what every wise believer must do-they sought God’s guidance in prayer.
During a sermon my husband preached in church, he referenced the scripture in Acts 1:24, and it has stayed with me ever since. Look at their prayer: “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen.” AMPC renders it even better: “You, Lord, Who knows all hearts (their thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, purposes, and endeavors), indicate to us which one of these two You have chosen”.
And God, being faithful, directed them to the right person. Now, imagine if they had chosen Barsabbas, and he turned out to be the wrong man for the role. The consequences could have been significant.
It is far better to never face the consequences of a wrong choice than to live with them.
Scripture says that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14) not those led by instincts, emotions, or their five senses. True direction comes from seeking and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
This is where many people go wrong when choosing who to marry. They often lean toward the person who seems “nice,” has money, or shows promise for the future, forgetting that these things are fleeting. You see, storms, trials, and tests of a person’s faith or even things like power and wealth can reveal sides of someone you never imagined existed. Under pressure, you might be shocked by what someone can do and the compromises they’re willing to make. God knows that the man who seems like a saint today but could turn out to be the devil’s advocate tomorrow. The nice lady who can turn out to be a man’s worst nightmare.
God’s will is that He be involved in every area of our lives, guiding us in every decision, even those that might seem simple or straightforward, like where to live or where to study.
The factors you consider before making a decision are not the same factors God takes into account. A clear example of how a man can make an entirely wrong choice is found in the story of Samuel and David. God sent Samuel to anoint a king to replace Saul. When Samuel asked Jesse to present his sons so he could anoint the next king of Israel, Samuel, relying on his own discernment, would have likely chosen the most obvious candidate. In fact, just one look at Eliab, and Samuel thought, “Definitely! This must be the Lord’s anointed!” But God responded to Samuel: “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
The Wisdom of this World is Foolishness in God’s Sight. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
This is why you cannot rely on your own discernment. Even the most devoted believers can act carnally at times. In today’s text, of course, Jesus didn’t mean that Peter was Satan. What He was revealing is that Peter was acting out of the flesh, and anyone who is carnally minded is susceptible to being influenced by Satan. This is why you can’t always rely on the counsel of man or trust human judgment alone. We all know how much Peter loved Jesus Christ, yet in a moment of deep emotion, his judgment was clouded by that love. So much so, that he would have talked Jesus out of God’s will if Jesus hadn’t been fully led by the Spirit of God, rather than being swayed by emotions.
Remember also how God led the Israelites through the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea? The natural route would have been through the land of the Philistines. In fact, that was the expected and obvious path. But God, knowing His people intimately, led them in a way that was beyond human reasoning, showing that His ways are often not the way we would choose. God knew that if the Israelites encountered war too early, they would change their minds and return to Egypt. And true to this, at the first sign of conflict on their journey to the promised land, they were tempted to turn back; despite having just experienced mighty deliverances and witnessing God’s love and determination to protect them.
Human wisdom is often based on personal experiences, intellect, and logic, but God’s wisdom transcends all of that. This is why we must trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding or what we perceive with our five senses. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
This is also why God chose those least esteemed by the world to accomplish great and mighty things. Our Lord Jesus Christ exemplified this when He selected the twelve disciples. They were not the most educated or learned when He chose them. In fact, when they began to spread God’s message, they astonished those who heard them. Scripture says: “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” ( Acts 4:13)
Today’s message is simple: As believers, we are called to act with complete reliance and dependence on God and the Holy Spirit within us not on our five sense or logic.
Have you ever bought a new gadget or piece of equipment and tried to set it up yourself, only to accidentally tamper with some settings or misplace things? In frustration, you eventually pick up the manual and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The problem is that you’ve made more work for yourself. You’ve lost time, and hopefully, you haven’t caused any serious damage. It will now take you much longer to fix things because you’ll need to undo what you did before consulting the manual. Naturally, when you purchase a new, complex gadget, you consult the manual to avoid messing things up. What many people don’t realize is that we, too, are God’s creation; His equipment. He is our Creator, and we were made for Him. As Scripture says: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11). All things, including you and me.
The day you realize and begin to understand that you are God’s creation is the day you see just how insufficient you are in yourself.
If today is the day you embrace this truth, I am excited for you! But don’t stop at discovering it; make a decision to consult God in every area of your life. Develop the habit of committing your ways to Him, and you will see Him fulfill His promise to order your steps, light your path, and guide you.
