Who's team are you on?

What does Peter the Apostle, and Job's friends have in common?
There were points in their lives where they sorely misrepresented God. In their misguided zeal for helping their friends, they were actually helping out the Adversary.

Job's friends cared for him. Wept for him. Attempted to give, in their estimation, wise counsel. But because they did not understand God's perspective (or His ways), they were a severe detriment to Job. If it were possible, they made matters worse! They added to the pain and sorrow that Satan was heaping on him. Poor ol' Job. With friends like that, who needs... well you know the rest. God allowed this for a while, but then set matters straight. Job's friends found themselves on the wrong team.

Peter listened intently as Jesus explained that He must be crucified and die. And in Peter's characteristic zeal, he rebukes Jesus and tells Him it would never be so! And Jesus' response must have been a bit of a shock for Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of man!" (my paraphrase Matt. 16:23). Peter loved Jesus, but was filled with "man's thinking." He did not have God's perspective, and in essence, was on Satan's team without even knowing it.

Sometimes our best intentions can be the Adversary's most effective weapons against others.
Let's encourage each other to seek the mind of God, His wisdom (James 1:5) and His understanding (Prov. 3:5-6) in all things. Because if we are not careful, we may be shocked to find out that we are on the wrong team.
Who's team are you on?

—DW