Thin Skin

Relational Vampires

Key Scripture

14 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him^[i] for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Matthew 16:13-23 

Reflect On What You’ve Heard

• Who in your life do you classify as a relational vampire that might not be?
• Who is in your circle that should be or should not be?
• Who do you want to be when you are 80 or in eternity?
• How do you need to act now to get there?
• Make a plan of attack.
• Are you seeing things from a human point of view or from God’s?

Pray It Out

Jesus, please give me a vision for my future and a knowledge to know what You desire for my life. I ask that You would help me to continually put my identity into You and what You say about me, so I can love others well. Thank you for being such a great God that You would become like me. Give me a heart for others and change me to be more like You every day. You are so great, amen.