1 Corinthians 10:12-14 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” This morning, I was reading in Romans and thinking about the other night when my Goddaughter called to discuss "The Temptation of Christ" (Matthew 4 & Luke 4) for an upcoming “Comparative Religions” college final. With Christ as our model, this brought me to think about how that related to "The temptation of us" (Christians saved by grace) in this secular humanistic society. Just look around, sin abounds in this world, but we are called to be holy (as God is holy) - set apart and see to it that we not become "Slaves to Sin", but "Slaves to Righteousness"; not slaves to Satan, but bond slaves to God through Jesus; not slaves to death, but slaves to life! Called to see and know the difference, to be separated from Sin, to live in the world (ambassadors for Christ), but not of this earthly, self-centered and materialistic world, but be of the kingdom of God. This secular world, ruled by Satan, dangles its temptations of temporary sinful pleasures and gain, to entice us to abandon Heaven and sell our soul to Hell on the same lie from Genesis 3:4-5 that "You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God". When not walking in the Spirit of God, how easily we can fall to vain pagan thoughts of self - power, position, prestige, possessions, passions, pride, partying, playboy, pageantry and pleasure - outside the word, will and way of God. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” How true!
The father of humanism wasn't even a human. This fallen angel Lucifer (the Devil) is "the father of lies", who tempts and attempts to deceive us into becoming a slave to Sin and take us down with him. In John 8:44 Jesus said. "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Satan is nothing but "the thief of mankind", who steals our life and our future - In John 10:10-11 Jesus tells us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” – Satan is the thief and Jesus is the “good Shepherd”.
The temptations of this culture are there, calling us to Sin, turn our minds from God, and forget righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, godliness and our eternal home, and to return to what we were saved from . Stand firm.
Romans 6:19-23 “Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
May you and I keep our hearts and minds on our Lord Christ Jesus, especially when Satan tempts us to turn away.
In Christ, Brian
The father of humanism wasn't even a human. This fallen angel Lucifer (the Devil) is "the father of lies", who tempts and attempts to deceive us into becoming a slave to Sin and take us down with him. In John 8:44 Jesus said. "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Satan is nothing but "the thief of mankind", who steals our life and our future - In John 10:10-11 Jesus tells us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” – Satan is the thief and Jesus is the “good Shepherd”.
The temptations of this culture are there, calling us to Sin, turn our minds from God, and forget righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, godliness and our eternal home, and to return to what we were saved from . Stand firm.
Romans 6:19-23 “Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
May you and I keep our hearts and minds on our Lord Christ Jesus, especially when Satan tempts us to turn away.
In Christ, Brian
2 comments:
You know, I read this and I think...thank God I am safe, and not tempted like some others are. I am secure in my relationship with Christ. But then truth pierces my heart. How many times do I find myself watching TV, blogging, shopping, etc., without giving any thought to God at all? Fragile humanity, flawed thinking, good intentions gone bad. I am guilty.
Thanks for another great post and more. I pray you have the most glorious Christmas ever, Brian!
The truth that you recognize is that we are in the flesh with carnal desires that, if not checked, monitored, and maintained become our priority and where the Devil tempts us. Quickly, we find that it is the Lord that we depend upon to guide us and meet our needs. It truly is fragile humanity, but look how strong our God is! When we conscientiously focus our hearts and minds on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, then we can walk in/ live by the spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. We put on the spiritual armor provided and extingish the flaming arrows of worldly enticements of the evil ones. Thank you for your great comments. They truly help others to understand, and that's what the Lord wants for us all.
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