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“Mindfulness”
Categories: Author: David Carrozza, Elder Articles
“Get behind Me, Satan! You are [j]an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23
Peter had just made “The Great Confession”. The one upon which Jesus said, “I will build my church.” Not only that, but the Master declares, “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
This was, Jesus told the disciples in his hearing, not revealed to Peter by “flesh and blood”, by the world but by His Father in heaven. It was revealed from the mind of God.
Peter made the declaration, Jesus affirmed its divine “things of God” origin and that it was indeed the “rock” on which the Messiah would build his everlasting church and by extension, the restoration of his kingdom.
At this point Peter was “mindful” of the things of God. But when Jesus continued the story of “HOW” the church and kingdom would be inaugurated Peter’s mind switched, perhaps understandably to the “things of men.”
In order for the church to be established, for the kingdom to come, Luke says, “ 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, [l]and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:46-47
This was not the way Peter, the disciples or the Jews in general envisioned the coming of the Messiah and the restoration of the kingdom to its former glory under David and Solomon. They believed the promise, the things of God but their how followed the ways of men.
My, oh my, isn’t this such a familiar story for us all. We want the things of God [his promises], we are mindful of his commands, we are committed to doing “many mighty works in His name”, but in fact we are doing His will, man’s way. We are in fact aware of some things of God, but in how they are done, we are mindful of the things [and ways] of men
Here are a few examples that should give us pause and cause us to reflect, to examine ourselves.
Abraham and Sarah were mindful [aware] of what God promised, but their patience wore out when they decided that the “how” the child of promise would come, required “the things of men”. What problems that created for so many.
Naaman, wanted to be healed. Elisha told him what to do to be cleansed, the “things of God” but Naaman was only seeing things [mindful] of what he thought [men’s way] should be done for healing, so he walked away from God’s promise and way of healing. God’s will rejected because it wasn’t done in mans way. When Gehazi, Elisha’s servant saw all the treasures Naaman was ready to give Elisha, he decided to do something mans way and calling it God’s will. He lied to Naaman to get treasures for himself.
Joseph saw God’s way even though he suffered the injustices of man’s way, [his brothers] trying to thwart the promises, prophecies revealed in Joseph’s dreams, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
The nation of Isreal, in spite of seeing the miraculous delivery from Exodus, hearing about the promised land, “the things of God” wouldn’t trust, weren’t mindful of how God would be with them conquering the land, they were only mindful of the things of men, “we are but grasshoppers” in their [the giants] sight.
Fewer things have been more profoundly, concisely or truthfully stated that when Isaiah said, For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
One of the biggest challenges we all face is being mindful of the things of God and not the things of men. Jesus emphasizes this in so many ways, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.” [Matthew 6:33], “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 2:5], “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” [Philippians 4:8]
This is of course a process of awareness, willingness and growth, “12 Not that I have already attained,[c] or am already perfected; but I press on,” says Paul. [Philippians 3:12]. As the hymn we often sing reminds us, “None of Self and All of Thee.” It is the hymnist says a progression from all of self, none of thee, to some of self and some of thee to none of self and all of thee.”
It is God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. [Philippians 2:13].
Pray that we will be more mindful of the things of God. The What…The Why and the How”
