Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
(Mark 8:32
NRSV)
The little girl replied emphatically, "To the principal's office."
Choosing to go God's way is not so much about being good or bad, but it does have a lot to do with who guides our lives God or our own desires.
In our scripture reading today, Peter says to Jesus, "You're crazy." You are not going to suffer and die. You see Peter and the disciples had a different idea about what the Messiah would be like. He saw the messiah as an earthly king or president, who would restore Israel's freedom and power. The disciples were looking for their own desires to be met, not God's desire that Jesus would become the savior of the world.
We are being asked today to choose who we will follow. There are many surveys that say lots people in our society believe in God. But belief in God does not constitute living God's way. For when we live God's way, we will be willing to suffer with those who suffer, and we will make sacrifices so that God's work will get done in and through the church.
Loving God, help me say yes to serving you in every way possible. In Jesus name, Amen.
Ron Newhouse