Savouring the Things of God

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.”   Matthew 16:23

I remember reading this verse almost ten years ago, when I was a student at Pensacola Christian College. I was in the first semester of my senior year of Nursing School. This verse jumped off the page. It comes after Peter telling Jesus about His upcoming suffering, “Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee.” It seems like an innocent statement: the disciple loved his Master and didn’t want his Master to suffer. In man’s reasoning, this seems a reasonable wish. Why did Jesus rebuke Peter so harshly, comparing him to Satan and stating that Peter had offended God Himself?

Think about it. If Jesus had not become the sacrifice for our sins, we would be doomed to spend eternity in hell with the devil and his demons. There would be no grace, no mercy, no forgiveness, no love. Peter’s seemingly innocent wish would have changed eternity.

That evening, when I read this verse, the Holy Spirit convicted me with the thought, “Do I offend Jesus?” Do I offend Him by wanting my own desires above what He has planned for me? Am I too focused on what is important in Man’s eyes without loving what is important to Christ? At the time, I was feeling sorry for myself because I did not have a future husband lined up, and all my friends seemed to have boyfriends or were getting engaged. No guys were even interested in me. Having a guy was my desire at the time, not God’s. Through the years, God has taken away other desires such as working among unreached people groups in Papua New Guinea, having my first two children born healthy, having a good vehicle to rely on (it was totaled by fault of another driver), and having excellent health. Through all of these disappointments and trials God has taught me to trust Himself. He has taught me that savouring the things of God, even if hard and full of tears and suffering really is the best. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Savouring the things of God involves trust that He knows best, and surrender to His desires for your life.

I wrote this poem that night that God worked on my heart. It has been an encouragement to me many times, and I pray that it would be an encouragement to you. Savour the things of God, that you may not offend, but please our amazing Saviour.

The things that be of God:

The things that be of man:

Which do I savour?

When I feed each

To my soul’s tongue,

I find which to have the better flavor?

Do I long for the things

That please and glorify God?

Do I earnestly seek His favour?

Or do I long for good things

That satisfy my own desires,

Not putting first my Saviour?

Lord, help me to taste

The good things of God.

Let those have the better flavor.

That I may long for God’s desires

Above my own desires,

That I completely please my Saviour.