Who's Whispering in Your Ear?

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. (Mark 8:31-33 NKJV)

I am reading Mark 8 this morning and noticed something very interesting. You have probably read this account of Peter, not liking the fact that Jesus said he was going to suffer and be killed by the scribes and priests; decide that he should rebuke Jesus (bold move to rebuke God).

But I am noticing Jesus' rebuke to Peter. It is as if Jesus is looking right past Peter to the source of Peters rebuke of Jesus. Jesus speaks to Satan. This is not what struck me this morning though, it is what he said to Satan that is interesting. 

We learn that Satan is NOT mindful of the things of God. But we also learn that Satan IS mindful of things of men. This got me thinking, are we as a Nation mindful of the things of God, or of men? Is my Church mindful of the things or God or of men? Is my family mindful of the things of God or of men? Am I mindful of the things of God, or of men? 

I would have thought Satan was mindful of the things of Satan. Maybe in a round about way he is, but Jesus tells us that Satan is mindful of us. 

Is our Nation more about people, or God? Is your family more about people than God? Are you more about the things and the concerns of you and other people, or are you more about the concerns of God?

I really think this is interesting, and concerning. How many people do you know that are "all about God?" Are you? If you are more concerned about men than you are about God; who is lurking behind your shoulder, and whispering in your ear?