“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”

The last thing Jacob remembered was his father Isaac trembling at the moment he realized he had not blessed his firstborn and favorite son. Jacob also had the echoes of Esau’s “exceedingly great and bitter cry” [Genesis 27:34]. Jacob knew, Rebekah knew and warned him with these words, ““Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.” [Genesis 27:42] There was no doubt in the mind of mother or her favorite son, Esau hates you and has nothing but revenge on his mind.

As Jacob fled to Haran, these were the deep and lasting memories of home and family. In Rebekah’s mind this fleeing to safety would be but a few days but the separation lasted years.

Such is the case many times in life, dramatic events in many different ways create seismic shifts in the course of life’s pathways, twists and turns of fate. This was for Jacob, Esau, Rebekah, and Isaac such an event and fork in the road.

The few days for Esau’s anger to subside may have taken place but because of the separation each brother’s life took on a new life of its own. Time and chance happened differently for them both and led them to entirely different circumstances.

For Esau, it appears from the story, did calm down, the secondary blessing he received from his father turned out to be “enough”, more than enough and over time Esau did move on from his foolish decision, his intense hatred and anger and his vow to kill his brother.

For Jacob though, the lingering threat, the intensity of Esau’s hatred, the echoes of his father’s trembling anxiety over the deception, betrayal and bestowing the birthright to the second born son, stayed fresh in Jacob’s mind. Time had passed but to Jacob, he had no way of knowing for sure that the same was true for Esau and his rage. It was still a very real possibility he would face.

As Jacob got word of his brothers approaching along with 400 men, it could only mean one thing is his “guilty as charged mind”. This would be the day of reckoning he had fled from and was dreading for a long time He could run no more. Jacob needed a plan…fast.

Here is where this encounter takes a prescient, almost prophetic turn in events, for Jacob and for Joseph. The parallels and life lessons are eerily connected.

1. Jacob had tricked, betrayed his father in an act of deception that caused his father tremendous grief. Joseph knew this story. And would later relive and revive in his own way an act of deceptive treachery.
2. Now Joseph saw his father facing the consequences of those actions. His uncle was coming with 400 men and his father was, “greatly afraid and distressed.” [Genesis 32:7] Joseph would see this same fear in the eyes of his brothers many years later.
3. Joseph witnessed his father “hat-in-hand” in humility, submission, and contrition make plans and preparations for the unavoidable necessity to face someone he had long ago wronged. Years later Jacob would again send gifts and provisions with his sons as a sign of humility and contrition to the same son who witness these acts before his uncle. [Genesis 43:11-14]
4. Joseph saw his father and his mother bow before his brother. We know he would later dream that not only his brothers, but his father as well would bow before him. [Genesis 33:1-7]
5. Joseph saw his uncle, Esau, who had been wronged, tricked and betrayed, magnanimously forgive and forget such a significant loss. [Genesis 33:8-12]
6. Joseph witnessed in his uncle’s story, demeanor and graciousness an aggrieved man who had in spite of setbacks and betrayal, moved on, prospered and realized that God had still blessed and prospered him. Esau saw in these blessings and circumstances, the obligation to forgive and be equally gracious to his brother.
7. Joseph saw his uncle Esau embracing his father in tears, with sincerity and kindness. This highly emotional reconciliation obviously stuck with Joseph, not only in his memory but as an example to follow.
8. Years later Joseph would face his brothers as the aggrieved, the wronged, and yet the one how had prospered. He would see his brothers bow before him, not only fulfilling his teenage dreams but recalling to memory this dramatic moment between his father and uncle.
9. Joseph would relieve the fear and trembling he saw in Jacob only now in his brothers before him as the one in authority. Joseph would remember the mercy and magnanimity of Esau in this moment as well.
10. Joseph would also recall the tearful, emotional embrace between Jacob and Esau as was overwhelmed by the sight of his family, their acts of repentance, humility and contrition.
11. Lastly Joseph could see not only from the lesson he learned from Esau, but in his own life, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good, and I have prospered…all is forgiven.

Repentance, reconciliation, compassion and mercy are powerful spiritual concepts to grasp and to emulate. God provides healing, time does its work if we are willing to see God’s hand, hold fast to what is good, forgive those who have wronged us and prepare ourselves for restoration.

Our children are always watching how we handle life’s good moments and those that are dramatic and hard. They will draw from these lessons when they face moments such as these as well.

The recent tragic events involving airplanes and air travel, combined with the snowstorm Wednesday, brought to memory a compelling story from a few years ago involving a family who dropped everything, going not knowing, walking by faith, trusting God and his people all for the sake of helping a fatherless child.

Their story has taught many and served as another example continuing the inspired stories and examples from the Bible itself.

Late on a Friday afternoon in mid-December, Laura answered a call. “There’s a baby that has just been born in Los Angeles.” The caller paused…” Okay…” was the only reply. “Are you and Nick still willing to go?”

The “still willing” reflected this “possibility” in a call from a month ago. When the possibility was shared, Laura and her husband Nick said, “Yes…if needed we would love to help this child and her mother.” At the time it was just a hypothetical. This day, this call was for real.

Laura’s answer was the same, “Yes…let me call Nick. He’s driving home from work right now.” That call took maybe three minutes. Sometimes life-changing decisions happen and are made this fast. They reflect, however, a mindset and resolution that took place long before the moment of decision appears.

Laura returned the call within half an hour. “Nick says yes! We’re making calls and working on everything right now. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

Two hours later, Laura called again. “We’re in the car heading to the Denver airport. There’s a winter storm coming in. I think we got the last flight out before they close everything down.” It was an amazing accomplishment to have made all the arrangements necessary to drop everything, including finding a member of the church that lived nearby to take care of their three-year-old daughter for an unknow period of time. Nick made arrangements with his employer, they called brothers and sisters for prayers and of course all the packing for a journey that only had a point of entry and no other details about who, where, what or for how long they were going or staying.

In fact we have “special forces”, first responder couples in our midst who have done very similar things in a moments notice.

As Nick and Laura drove in the snow, there were a few answers she still needed to hear. It started with the one thing they did know, “We’re flying into LAX.” Where are we going from there? What hospital is the mother and baby at? Where will we stay? Any idea of how the mother is doing or how long we might be at the hospital?” Laura hoped to hear details on all these questions, but all she heard was, “I’ll figure that out while you’re in the air.”

Flying into the storm, going not knowing, walking in faith, practicing pure religion by caring for the fatherless. Depending on God’s providence through his people, relying on answered prayers and answering the call. We call people that GO on a moment’s notice, “Seal Team Six” couples.

The Bible has recorded many “Special Forces” people. Abram, who left his homeland in faith, going not knowing. Joshua and Caleb who trusted God in spite of everyone else’s fear, Rahab, who took the risk to hide the spies because of her belief that Jehovah would destroy her city while protecting her life by cooperating with his people. Abraham, when he received the shocking call to sacrifice his son, did not delay but rose the next morning and left for Moriah. There was also Noah who grabbed his tools and began building a boat.

There are so many more as you may be thinking of now but for me these stories touch home with Isaiah’s response to God’s need and God’s call, “Here am I, send me!”

We, individually and collectively, as God’s “called out” people have a calling. To go, to serve, to make disciples, to care, to have an answer for our hope, to teach and edify, to be a light to the world. Not all calls are as dramatic as Nick and Laura’s but their answering their call began by being prepared in many different ways.

We will, Lord willing, have many ways to serve and answer calls this year at Veteran’s Parkway. Let’s get ready to say, “Here am I send me.”