HSTC Excerpt - The Trap of Emotions

THE TRAP OF EMOTIONS

It is painful to see people bound by circumstances and not be permitted to share what God has revealed to us. However, we don’t have the authority to choose who or when God liberates people through us. It is in God’s hands so that we don’t emotionally pursue things that God has not given to us. We must continually pursue the Presence of God in all that we do so we don’t make the mistake of falling out of the Will of God, even though our intentions seem innocent. In the Word of God, we see Peter’s emotions controlling his actions a number of times.

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:21-24)

Jesus had just blessed Peter and told him that he would give unto him the keys to the kingdom. After the disciples began to learn of Jesus’ coming death, Peter heard those piercing words from the Lord and he could not contain his emotions. Peter did not want his Hero to suffer and die, so he allowed his emotions to overtake him, which opened the door to being controlled by his flesh. Peter had forsaken everything he knew to follow Jesus and he could not imagine being separated from his friend. Naturally, no one wants to lose a loved one, but we can not let our feelings get in the way of fulfilling our purpose nor hindering anyone else’s. Our emotions, like Peter’s, can lead us astray from the Plan of God because we do not want to subject ourselves to pain.

Peter submitted himself to Jesus when everything was going good, but when Jesus began to speak about suffering, Peter wanted to take control. He got an attitude with the Plan of God; he was not going to allow his friend to subject himself to an undeserved suffering. As Peter did, we try to talk to Jesus and reason with Him, because we do not understand the path that God takes us through; we want to take back control of our lives and try to look for another way to accomplish God’s purpose. Instead of surrendering to God, we surrender to our emotions, allowing our flesh to dictate our actions. Our flesh does not want to subject us to the suffering required to reap spiritual growth in God. However, we must deny our emotions and follow the Spirit of God wherever and however He leads.

www.hstc.pwpublish.com
www.pwpublish.com