0762. Satan Resists Our Cross-Bearing

Satan Resists Our Cross-Bearing

"Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be onto Thee" (Mat_16:22).

The Lord Jesus had been declaring that He must suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and be killed. Peter immediately began to rebuke Him, saying, "Pity Thyself, Lord," or, "This shall not be unto Thee, Lord." Christ recognized satan back of Peter’s words; therefore, Christ said unto Peter: "Get thee behind Me, satan."

The devil is forever urging us to take the easy path, the popular path, the path of least resistance.

Of course, the devil knows, and we should know, that if any man lives Godly in Christ Jesus, he shall suffer persecution.

Of course, the devil knows, and we should know, that it is given us in behalf of Christ to suffer for His sake.

But, satan does not want us to go all the way with Christ. Therefore, he is forever urging: "Spare thyself."

When Moses would have led the Israelites away from Egypt, the devil urged various compromises.

1. He wanted them to worship God "in the land."

2. He wanted them to go, "not very far away."

3. He wanted them to go, but to leave their "wives and children" in Egypt.

4. He wanted them to go, but to let their "cattle and goods" to be stayed.

Satan will fight the believer every inch of the way in his cross-bearing.

If God calls upon us to leave all and follow, satan will hinder us, if he can.

1. One who seemed so willing to follow, staggered when he saw that Christ had no where to lay His head.

2. One to whom Christ said, "Follow Me," asked that he might first bury his father; another wanted first to say good-by to the family at home.

3. The rich young ruler went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.

4. Peter asked the Lord to pity Himself, but Christ said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself."

Satan will minify the glory of Christ and magnify the sufferings with Christ.

Satan will try to get us to looking at others. Thus when Christ told Peter by what death he should glorify God, and said "Follow Me," Peter said: "Lord, and what shall this man do?"

Let us gladly bear our cross and say to the enemy: "Get behind me, satan."

"A beautiful crown in Heaven to wear,

For those who here the cross will bear,

So bear it, my brother, and when you get there,

A beautiful crown you’ll wear."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR