My previous devotional sharing was about Get Behind Me and dealt with how Peter spoke from the flesh to Jesus and how others spoke to Paul similarly.  Both instances had good motivational meanings but were rooted in a natural understanding of things instead of the spiritual.

I want to encourage us today by describing how Jesus and Paul avoided being swept up in what was spoken to them.  Jesus clarified that Peter had allowed himself to be used by the enemy when he spoke.  Jesus also made it clear why it was off base.

Matthew 16:21  From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”  23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Notice the accurate assessment of Jesus regarding the motivation of Satan.  “You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

It was incumbent on Jesus to have discernment rooted in His certainty of God’s will for Him. Because He was so in tune with God’s will, He could easily discern that these words were from the enemy and rooted in the flesh.

The same was true for Paul.

Acts 21:12  Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul was ready to suffer whatever came his way because of the word he received when Jesus first called him.

Acts 9:15   But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Paul knew he was appointed to suffer things in Jesus’ name as he preached the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. He expected such things and had accepted them as part of his mission and calling. He perceived it as part of how he was to glorify Jesus and make Him known.

Because of how confident Paul was of this, he could easily resist the sentiment of friends desiring that he avoid such suffering. Paul knew God’s will for his life, which equipped him with discernment to know when and what to resist. By confidently knowing God’s will for your life, you are most equipped to discern what to say yes to and what to say no to. A confident knowing is to any believer’s advantage.