FOLLOWER or FAMILIAR
- UnstoppableRevKev
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
“Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord! This shall never happen to You!’” Matthew 16:22
🔎Reflection: Peter, the same man who once said to Jesus, “Because You say so,” regarding a matter within his realm of expertise, now, two and a half years later, presumed to rebuke the WORD incarnate, the God-man he just declared as the Christ! Scripture exposes time and time again that religious familiarity ALWAYS erodes and eventually destroys our relationship with God. In the absence of authentic relationship devoid of ongoing humility… pride and self-righteousness invariably and inevitably fester. They manifest consistently, regularly, repeatedly, and without exception under the guise -and- in the name of religion. Satan is the greatest salesman ever. Contrary to popular belief, the Devil isn’t selling darkness; he’s crafty… smart… slick… shrewd and subtle.
Satan is selling an “alternative” light, one of human invention; one that’s close to the real thing, but without all the pesky repentance, annoying surrender, or the frustration of “following.” Consider the Apostle Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 11:12-15:
But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
Peter wasn't walking with Jesus; he was walking in front of Him. That’s religion. The longer we follow Jesus, the greater we realize our desperate dependency. The farther we walk with Jesus out in front… the greater our realization of the words of John the Baptist from John 3:30, “He must increase; I must diminish.” Enoch walked with God (Gen 5:24); he didn’t walk around or in front of Him. Familiarity with King Jesus, the eternal Son of God, is the most dangerous place for the soul. Not because Jesus is unsafe, but because being around Him without truly following Him sears our conscience and dulls our senses. It Satan’s ploy to steal, kill, and destroy. It tricks us into thinking we’re alive when we’re drifting further and faster toward death on the wide path that leads to destruction.
Scripture’s greatest warning isn’t about those who choose outright rejection as enemies of God (Satan, Cain, Pharaoh, etc.), but rather for those in close proximity to God: Adam & Eve, Noah’s sons, King Saul, Judas, Jesus’ mother and brothers (Mark 3:21), Ananias & Sapphira, and Simon Peter! The WORD repeatedly shouts warnings about those who come near—those in the discipleship crowd, in the house, in the family, even those at the LORD’s table—who never truly surrender, submit, abandon, know, or love Him as LORD and King.
Outright rebellion isn’t the greatest threat; the REAL threat… the real killer is religion, routine, customs, tradition, and proximity. It’s the combination of a facsimile and familiarity. It’s walking around Jesus first, which then leads to walking in front of Jesus, without ever having truly walked WITH Him… without ever having truly FOLLOWED Him. To them He will say, "I never knew you."
We see this throughout the testimony of Scripture. Abraham heard God’s voice, but still tried to fulfill the promise his own way (Gen 16). Moses met with God face-to-face, yet still misrepresented Him in pride and struck the rock (Num 20; Deut 3). The unnamed prophet in 1 Kings 13 heard clear instructions from the LORD, but listened to a lie, disobeyed, and was torn apart by a lion. Over and over in Israels Judges, kings, priests, and prophets... in the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, we find religious people who were close and familiar with religious customs, religious traditions, the Law, sacrifices, and temple routine… religious people who knew God’s WORD forward and backward… yet, they chose to lean on their own understanding and, like arrogant and prideful religious pioneers… like religious trailblazers, they went in front of the LORD rather than walking with Him… rather than simply following Jesus.
Then there's Simon Peter. He walked in close proximity to Jesus, heard every sermon, witnessed every miracle, even confessed Jesus as the Christ… yet Peter still thought he had the right to pull the God the Son aside to rebuke Him. Peter wasn’t doing the ONE THING Jesus invited him to do from the onset… “Follow Me.” Somewhere along the way, Peter shifted into religious autopilot mode. Like Satan, Peter became impressed with himself… overconfident in his ability and knowledge; Peter became comfortable… even complacent in his nearness to God. Peter’s pride resulted in self-promotion, elevation to the throne that belongs exclusively to Christ.
In Exodus 33, when God offered to send Israel forward without His divine presence, Moses immediately called a time-out, saying, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here... For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Moses knew that rituals weren’t enough. Morality wasn’t the key. Ceremony, sacrifice, rules, religious effort… nothing in or of human creation or invention could ever replace or substitute the ONLY THING that truly sets anyone apart as holy: God Himself. His presence. His voice. His power. Obedience to His WORD.
Jesus shared the same gracious words with Peter after his denial—not in anger, but in love. The LORD didn’t give Peter a religious checklist. He didn’t tell Peter to ask Him into his heart. God the Son didn't tell him to go to seminary, offer a leadership plan, strategy, or system. Jesus, the Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the cosmos, simply said, “Follow Me.” Not “be around Me,” not “work for Me,” not “do impressive things in My name”—simply, “Follow Me.”
Religious familiarity isn’t an accidental oopsie. It's the desire of the depraved human heart, and it ALWAYS leads to death. It feeds the human heart that’s deceitful above ALL things. It fosters complacency and breeds contempt. Unchecked, religion replaces real, authentic, legitimate living faith with hollow spiritual habits and churchy routines. Humble, daily surrender to Christ, truly following the Son of God... that’s the ONLY place where everlasting life is found. That’s because, as Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE, and no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
🤺Action: Be honest. Are you walking around or in front of Jesus instead of following Him? Do you glean bits from God’s WORD and use Scripture selectively for personal blessings, for spiritual “highs,” or to defend your opinions rather than surrendering fully to its authority? Call out to Christ Jesus, pray the prayer of the psalmist in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting!” Then repent as the Holy Spirit convicts. Invite the Living Word to correct and cleanse you.
🙏Prayer: LORD Jesus, create in me a clean heart. Expose the dross in my heart, thoughts, and life. Please forgive me for acting like I know better than You regarding what is best. Strip away the lies and false security of religious proximity and performance. Fill me with a childlike faith. Please help me to always abide in You! Keep me, LORD, from ever straying, but always walking with You… behind You, following You in humble surrender, perpetual gratitude, and total abandon to reflect Your divine glory! I pray this in Your holy and precious name, LORD Jesus, Amen.
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Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
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