Tag: temptation

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Luke Devotionals

Filled, led, and empowered

Luke

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil…

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee…(Luke 4:1-2, 14)

Holy Spirit, I can’t live this life without you.

I can’t resist temptations.

I can’t endure trials and spiritual deserts.

I can’t do your work, touching the people around me.

I need you.

So fill me as you filled Jesus.

Lead me as you led Jesus.

Empower me as you empowered Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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2 Samuel Devotionals

Choosing obedience

2 Samuel

This is a difficult passage on a lot of levels.

Apparently, Israel had sinned in some way. What that sin was, we don’t know, but perhaps it was their rejection of David, God’s appointed king, and following Absalom and later Sheba.

At any rate, because of their sin, God decided to bring judgment on them.

That is important to note, by the way. Contrary to what David thought, Israel was not innocent and was worthy of judgment. (2 Samuel 24:17)

But how to account for God stirring up David against them? Did God cause David to sin?

Also, in 1 Chronicles 21, it says Satan was the one who incited David to count the people of Israel. So who was responsible?

It’s a difficult question.

But here are some things to remember.

First, Satan always stands against God’s people. And he would destroy us if he could.

But as we see in Job, God puts definite limits on what Satan can and cannot do to us. (Job chapters 1-2)

Second, for purposes of judgment or for testing, God will loosen those limits.

We see examples of judgment with Saul and King Ahab. (1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Kings 22:19-23).

We see examples of testing with Job and Jesus (Matthew 4:1).

Third, regardless of whether God loosens those limits or not, people do not have to sin. They can choose to do right. Job and Jesus chose to do right. Saul and Ahab didn’t.

So ultimately, while for purposes of judgment God loosened the limits on Satan, David still had his choice. And David chose to sin.

David himself accepted responsibility for his own sin. (2 Samuel 24:10, 17)

David didn’t sin because God made him sin.

Nor did the devil “make him do it.”

David sinned because of what was in his heart. (James 1:14)

And what seems to have been in his heart was his pride in his military strength, which may be why he wanted the people counted.

Two further points.

First, this side of the cross, as children of God, we no longer need to fear God’s judgment (1 John 4:14-19).

Like the Israelites, we are deserving of God’s judgment, but Jesus took that judgment upon himself on the cross.

So while God may discipline us at times, we will never face his judgment. (Hebrews 12:5-11; Romans 8:1)

Second, though God may loosen his limits on Satan and let us go through times of testing, we always have the choice to obey or not.

But as Paul wrote,

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity.

But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

So let us remember the words of James, trusting in God’s goodness and faithfulness toward us, following after him.

Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

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Mark Devotionals

Driven out

Mark

Sometimes, looking at the same story in different gospels can be very interesting.

In Matthew 4, it says after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit “led him” into the desert.

In Mark 1, it says the Spirit “drove him out into the desert.” It’s the same word Mark uses when he talks about Jesus “driving out” demons.

And this just one verse after God had told Jesus, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”

Sometimes we go through times of testing. You may be feeling that way now. We feel driven out by God, and we wonder, “Does God really love me?”

Yes he does. Remember this: the times of testing God puts his children through are not to destroy them, but to strengthen them.

He is not hoping we will be defeated. He is cheering for our victory.

And though we may be surrounded by “beasts” at times, his angels are always with us, supporting us as well.

Jesus himself knew what like to be “driven out.” So if you feel driven out, turn to him, your high priest.

As the writer of Hebrews said,

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

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1 Chronicles Devotionals

A never-ending battle

1 Chronicles

If there was one enemy that often came against the Israelites, it was the Philistines.

Time and again, the Israelites conquered them.

Time and again, the Philistines came back to war against the Israelites.

In the same way, as Christians, we face a constant struggle with sin.

We may overcome temptation one day, but the next day, the temptation comes roaring back. And until we enter God’s kingdom, we will face that battle every day.

But don’t get discouraged.

Just as God gave David victory over the Philistines, he will give us victory over sin. And even when we fall, he is there to pick us back up.

So in our battle against sin, let us always remember Paul’s words.

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)

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James

For our good

James

“Why is God doing this to me? Does he want me to fall?”

Sometimes, as we go through trials, that’s how we feel. That God actually wants us to fail so that he can punish us.

But nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, God allows trials in our lives, but it is not to punish us or break us. Rather, he allows these trials that we might become “mature and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4)

And so James tells us,

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)

The word “tempt” in Greek is actually the verb form of the word “trial.” Because of that, perhaps James’ readers got confused when hearing that God “tests” us. Many people have the same confusion today.

Yes, God tests us. He wants to see what is inside of us, and he wants to use these tests to strengthen our faith in him.

But God never tempts us to do evil. He never says, “Hey why don’t you lust after this girl,” or, “Why don’t you start berating your spouse,” or, “Why don’t you curse me?”

All these temptations, James tells us, come not from God, but from our own sinful selves. Our own sinful desires lure us, and if we take the bait, it gives birth to sin, and eventually leads to death.

But that’s not what God desires for us.

Rather James tells us,

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (16-18)

In other words, every act of giving from God is good. And every gift that he gives us is perfect. There is no malicious giving on his part. And there is no gift that he gives that is defective.

And that shows in the gift of salvation. God could have left us to die in our sins. But rather, he chose to give us life through his Son.

And God is not like shifting shadows, who one day will seek to bless us, and the other to destroy us.

Rather, again, his goal is that we might become whole and complete. That we would, as the writer of Hebrews puts it, “share in his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:10).

So remember that whatever you’re going through, God is not trying to destroy you. He’s not trying to wreck your life. We do enough of that on our own. Rather, through our trials, he’s trying to teach us to trust him.

And as we learn this, we see God’s goodness and faithfulness, and come out through the fire as pure gold, whole, complete, lacking nothing.

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James

That we may be mature and complete

Wholeness

What is God’s intention and desire for us?

In a word, “wholeness.”

That we would be whole in our relationship with him. That we would be whole in our relationships with each other. That we would be whole in every aspect of our lives.

That’s a comforting thought, isn’t it? We all want to be made whole.

The next thought might not be so comforting: It is for the purpose of being made whole that we go through many of the trials and struggles we do.

That’s why it’s hard for us to accept James’ word to us when he says,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

Pure joy? When we face suffering?

Yes. Pure joy. Why? Because these trials produce perseverance in our lives. Why is perseverance so important?

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (4)

In short, the path to wholeness is one of persevering through trial. For through those trials, we learn to cast aside trusting ourselves and our own wisdom.

The reason our lives are so broken is that we have spent our entire lives trusting ourselves and our own wisdom. But through our trials, we learn just how vain life is living that way.

But when we turn to God, learning to trust him and his ways, and we persevere in living that way even through trial, then we find wholeness. In our relationship with him, with each other, and in every aspect of our lives.

That’s why James tells us in the next verse,

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (5-8)

As I read this, I can’t help but think of Hebrews 11:6, where it says,

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Wholeness comes down to trusting God. If we doubt God’s goodness in our lives, we will never do the things he asks. And if we don’t do the things he asks, our lives will remain the broken shells they are.

How about you? Do you want to be whole, when all the while you’re holding on to your wisdom and your ways? You can never be made that whole that way. That way leads only to brokenness and despair.

But if you will trust in God, he will bring you out of the trials you are going through. And he will bring you out mature, whole, and complete.

What will you do?

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1 Corinthians

Warning and encouragement

1 Corinthians

In this passage, we see both warning and encouragement concerning temptation.

First Paul writes,

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)

I think this was especially pertinent for those who thought they were “strong” in their faith.

As I mentioned before, there were many who were “weak” in faith in that they had tender consciences. In particular, they could not eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols without feeling guilty.

Others today may not have that particular problem, but they feel guilty about drinking a glass of wine or beer. Others may feel guilty about playing cards.

And it would be easy for the “strong” to look down on the “weak” and say, “Look how much more mature as a Christian I am. Look how much stronger my faith is. I can do things that these others can’t.”

But Paul tells them, “Be careful. You may think you’re strong, but if you stand in your pride, you could easily fall yourself and prove yourself weak.”

A glass of beer, for example, could turn into two or three or four leading you to get drunk. And if that happens too often, that could turn into alcoholism. In either case, you have just stepped over the line into sin.

But even if you never do, you can fall into the sin of pride, such that you look down on others and abuse your freedom causing them to fall.

Or you could fall into other sins entirely.

You start to fail to trust God in your decisions at work and start compromising God’s values for the sake of the business or for your own position.

Or you lose your temper with those around you.

Or someone hurts you and you cling to unforgiveness and bitterness in your heart.

There are numerous ways in which we can fall. But if we walk around in pride, we can become blinded to our own faults just as the Pharisees did in Jesus’ day.

So Paul warns us, “Watch yourself. You may not be as strong as you think you are, and you can fall just as easily as anyone else.”

But then he gives a word of encouragement.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

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 stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The word “temptation” has two senses. One, of course, is temptation to sin. But it can also mean trials.

And Paul says that whatever temptation or trial you may go through, God knows your limits.

He will not let you go through more than you can handle, but he will always provide a way for you to stand despite what pressures come against you.

There’s also comfort in knowing that we are not alone. Some people think, “I’m the only Christian who struggles with this. Why am I so bad?” And Satan would have you believe that.

But Paul makes clear that whatever temptation you go through, others have gone through it too.

One of the benefits of confessing your sins to others is that you soon find out that many of them struggle with the same things you do. And while you may be weak individually, together, in the Lord, you can find strength.

How about you? Are you feeling strong? Be careful lest you fall.

Are you feeling weak? Be encouraged. You are not alone.

Others have gone through the same things you are going through now.

And God will always be with you to help you stand.

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1 Corinthians

Sex in marriage

1 Corinthians

The need for sex is a very strong one. I think one reason God created us that way was so that people would come together in marriage and have children together.

And yet, as I mentioned yesterday, there are special parameters God has given concerning sex. It is only to be enjoyed between husband and wife.

Particularly in Japan, however, it seems that “sexless marriages” are on the rise. Numerous articles have actually been written on the subject.

Corinth was also having its issues concerning marriage and sex, and so they wrote Paul about what they should do.

In answer, Paul wrote,

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1)

Apparently, this is what some Christians were saying.

On one hand you had some people involved in sexual sin (chapter 5).

But here we see people going to the opposite extreme, saying that it was good not to have sex at all.

And in the Christian context, in which sex is restricted to married couples, the idea was that it was good not to get married.

But while Paul does say that singleness can be a good thing (1 Corinthians 7:7-8, 32-35), he told the Corinthians,

But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2)

Paul recognizes here that because the sexual urge in people is so strong, it can lead to sin unless they find a way to fulfill that urge.

And again, one main reason God gave us that urge was so that two people would come together in marriage, become one, and have children.

It is, in fact, a picture of our relationship with God. That we are joined with Christ, with he as the groom, and we as his bride, and in that joining we give birth to righteousness in our lives, the fruit of our love for him.

But anyway, Paul says when you get married, feel free to enjoy a life of sex with your spouse.

More, he encourages couples to make it a regular part of their lives.

He writes,

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.

Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.

Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:3-5)

There are some key principles of marriage that we need to remember here. Namely, that when we get married, we no longer belong to ourselves alone. We belong to each other.

And so Paul says don’t deprive each other sexually except for short times so that you might devote yourselves to prayer.

And even then, that decision should be made mutually.

But then he says, be sure to come together again. Why?

Because if you don’t Satan will swoop in with sexual temptation. This is especially true with men, but also true with the women.

How many marriages are damaged because couples don’t follow the Lord’s instructions.

Instead, husbands and wives find their sexual fulfillment outside of marriage, ultimately destroying their marriage, not only causing pain to themselves, but to their children as well.

Let us not do that. Let us find satisfaction and joy in our own husbands and wives and never seek to find it anywhere else.

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John 18 Luke 22 Mark 14 Matthew 26

Taking a hard look at ourselves

The gospels

We’ll get to the trial of Jesus in the next few blogs, but first, I’d like to deal with Peter.

It’s a bit tricky trying to harmonize the gospels on this point because there are variations in the testimony. If I’ve pieced it together properly, there were actually four denials with three coming before witnesses.

The first came as Peter entered the courtyard of the high priest.

Another of the disciples (perhaps John, or perhaps a disciple who was not one of the twelve) was well known to the high priest, so he was able to enter the courtyard, and on his word, Peter was able to enter too. (John 18:15-16)

Enter a very persistent servant girl. She was the one watching the gate, and as Peter entered, she asked, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” (John 18:17)

At a guess, she recognized him as one that had been with Jesus. This was probably confirmed in her mind by the fact that his friend who had vouched for him was a disciple too.

Peter denied it, saying, “I am not.”

The first denial before witnesses came shortly thereafter. As Peter was warming himself by the fire, the same girl came up to him, peered closely, and convinced that she was right, said, “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus.” (Mark 14:67)

She then announced to everyone in the courtyard in a loud voice, “This man was with him.” (Luke 22:56)

At that point, one of the people at the fire questioned Peter, “You’re not one of his disciples are you?” (John 18:25)

Peter answered. “I am not. I don’t even know the man. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” (Mark 14:68; John 18:25b)

He then moved off to the entryway. A short while later, the same servant girl came with her friend, another servant girl who had perhaps seen Peter with Jesus before, and pointed him out to her, saying, “This fellow is one of them.” (Mark 14:69)

Her friend then said for all to hear, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” (Matthew 26:71)

One of the men in the area looked over, recognized Peter and he too exclaimed, “You also are one of them.” (Luke 22:58)

Peter then swore that he didn’t saying, “Man, I am not. I don’t know the man.” (Matthew 26:72; Luke 22:58b)

Perhaps that satisfied everyone for a while, but after about an hour, one of the priest’s servants walked by and saw Peter.

Worse, he was a relative of the man Peter had attacked in the Garden of Gethsemane. And he said, “Didn’t I see you with him at the olive grove?” (John 18:26).

When Peter denied it, another piped up, “Surely you are one of them for you are a Galilean. Your accent gives you away. (Matthew 26:73; Mark 14:70)

At that point, Peter lost it and started to call curses on himself swearing, “I don’t know the man.”

And then, he heard a rooster crow. He then heard a commotion in the courtyard as Jesus was being led out to be taken to Pilate, and as he turned, he saw Jesus looking right at him.

Realizing what he had done, he ran out, weeping bitterly.

So much for that. What can we get from this?

It would be so easy to criticize Peter. To criticize him for his cowardice and hypocrisy. But I think we would be better served to take a close look at ourselves.

Personally, I don’t know if I would have done any better than Peter.

I remember as a teenager, basically doing the same thing. When asked if I was a Christian, I didn’t deny it, but I avoided the question entirely, either by silence or by trying to deflect the question.

It’s something I’m ashamed of to this day.

But going beyond that, I have seen people fall into other kinds of sin. Particularly sexual ones. And knowing the temptations that I face daily, I know that I could be like them if I’m not careful. Because I am weak. And only by the grace of God, can I stand.

And that’s what we need to remember when we see others fall. That we are all weak. We are all sinful. And we can all fall. So let us not stand in judgment so much as to have compassion for them and seek their restoration.

Let us remember the words of Paul who wrote,

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

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Luke Luke 11 Matthew Matthew 6

Sermon on the Mount: A daily spiritual battle

The gospels

Every day, we are fighting a spiritual battle. That’s why Jesus instructed us to pray,

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)

We’re living in an evil world, in which the prince of darkness dwells. And he is hostile to us. He will do anything to bring us down from within or without.

From within, he tries to get us to fall to our own sinful nature, to give into the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

And so we are to pray that God would lead us. That we would keep our eyes on him, following him, rather than our own sinful nature.

Everyone knows their weak points. And to some degree, it’s good to be aware of them. To avoid doing things that would bring you to the point of temptation.

But if we spend all our time focusing on what we shouldn’t be doing, chances are that the temptation will only grow.

If on the other hand, we keep our eyes on God, we’re much more likely to avoid temptation. It’s not enough to just avoid sin. We need to follow God.

But beyond temptations, Satan wants to hurt us. He will attack us, and many times he’ll use the broken people of this world to hurt us.

Other times, he’ll whisper his lies into our mind, saying things like, “You’re no good. God can’t love you. You messed up too badly this time. He can’t forgive you.”

So Jesus tells us to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one.”

We are in a war against an enemy that hates us. So let us remember the words of Peter, who said,

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

And let us pray that God in his grace would limit his influence on our lives.

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Matthew Matthew 5

Sermon on the Mount: Whatever it takes

Matthew

My favorite sports team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and back in the 70s, their coach was a man named Chuck Noll.

Noll had a saying, “Whatever it takes.” In other words, “We do whatever necessary to win the game (within the rules, of course).”

Well here, we see that same kind of attitude. But it has nothing to do with winning games. It has to do with sin.

Jesus essentially tells us, “Do whatever it takes to get rid of sin in your life.”

He said,

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30)

Although some people have taken this literally, Jesus does not mean this literally. He doesn’t want you to literally gouge out your eye or cut off your hand.

What he is saying is to take sin seriously. Too often, we don’t. We just say, “Well, it’s okay. God will forgive me.”

And unlike what Jesus taught in the Beatitudes, we don’t mourn over our sin. Instead, we continue on in our sin.

But Jesus reminds us here that sin is the reason that he went to the cross.

Sin causes people to go to hell. You were going to hell because of your sin before you met Jesus. How then can you take it lightly and continue on in your sin?

And so Jesus says do whatever it takes to get rid of sin in your life. What does that mean practically?

First, it means prayer. We do not have the ability to fight sin on our own. We need the power of God working in us to conquer sin.

Second, it means avoiding problem areas in your life. In other words, if you have a problem with alcoholism, stay away from bars or parties where alcohol is served and you’ll be tempted to drink.

If you have a problem with lust, stay away from anywhere that sells pornography. Cut these things off from your life.

Third, it means accountability. Share with someone you trust your struggles and have them check up on you regularly. Not only that, have them pray with you and for you.

James writes,

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

But whatever you do, don’t take sin lightly. Jesus didn’t. He went to the cross because of it.

So do whatever it takes to be holy as he is holy.

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Luke Luke 4 Mark Mark1 Matthew Matthew 4

Following the Father

The gospels

Happy New Year all!

I suppose there’s no better way to start the year then remembering who we are to follow heading into the New Year. It’s the person whom Jesus followed while he walked this earth, and you see it clearly in these passages.

This is one of the most famous passages in scripture in which Jesus gets tempted in the desert.

But as I read it this time, and looked at the scripture that Jesus quoted in fighting the temptations thrown at him by Satan, one thing struck me: Just how much trust he put in his Father.

Filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, Jesus went out into the desert after his baptism, and stayed out there for 40 days.

It seems only fitting, then, that the scriptures he quoted came from Deuteronomy after the Israelites had been wandering around in the desert for 40 years. Because what Moses told the Israelites right after that, Jesus lived out in his life.

What did Moses say?

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)

Just as the Father led the Israelites through the desert to test them, so he led Jesus out into the desert to be tested. Like the Israelites, Jesus was humbled, being caused to become hungry.

But unlike the Israelites, he refused to complain against his Father during that time. Rather, he trusted that his Father would provide what he needed, when he needed it.

Satan tried to get Jesus to rely on himself and his own powers to meet his needs by turning stones into bread. But Jesus refused, and relied solely on his Father in heaven to provide what he needed.

When Satan tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the temple and let the angels catch him, even quoting scripture to do so (which shows how important it is to understand context when we’re reading scripture), Jesus pointed to Deuteronomy 6, where Moses told the people,

Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. (Deuteronomy 6:16)

What happened at Massah? The Israelites again showed a lack of trust in God, this time because they had no water, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7)

Sometimes, we question God in the same way. We go through struggles, and say, “Is God really with me or not?”

Satan was basically tempting Jesus to question God in that way too. He was saying, “Is your Father really with you? If you’re going to serve him, you’d better find out by jumping off the temple. If he’s really with you, he’ll catch you.”

But Jesus refused to do so, fully believing that his Father was with him, though he couldn’t see him.

Finally, Satan tempted Jesus to worship him in order to gain the kingdoms of the world. But again Jesus refused. He would not let anything or anyone deter him from following his Father saying,

Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ (Matthew 4:10)

How about you? Who are you following as you head into this new year? Are you following the Father?

Are you trusting that he is with you and will meet your needs? Are you making following him your first priority, above your job, your family, your friends, and everything else?

Who are you following?

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Psalms

Lead me not into temptation…

Psalms

As Psalm 140 was a prayer similar to our Lord’s in asking for deliverance from evil, Psalm 141 continues that theme and adds the other part of that verse in the Lord’s prayer.

Lead us not into temptation.  (Matthew 6:13)

David prays,

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.

Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
to take part in wicked deeds
with men who are evildoers;
let me not eat of their delicacies.  (Psalm 141:3-4)

It strikes me here that he focuses on two things:  the words of his mouth, and the meditations of his heart.

He prays, “Lord, don’t let anything evil come out of my mouth.”

So often, Christians struggle with just that.  Whether it’s grumbling or complaining, gossip, slander, hurtful words, or whatever it may be.

Just a couple of days ago, I caught some sarcastic complaints coming out of my mouth.  And God rebuked me for it.

David also worried about his thought life, and he said, “Don’t let my heart be drawn to what is evil.  Don’t let my heart see the evil people around me, and be attracted to it.  To envy who they are and what they have.”

For when we allow our hearts to meditate on evil, it’s only a short step to acting on it.

Jesus also pointed out the importance of our thought lives in other areas.

He said that if we harbor anger in our hearts toward our brother, we have murdered him in our heart (Matthew 5:21-22).

He also said that if we lust after a woman, we’ve committed adultery with them in our hearts. (Matthew 5:27-28)

God is not only concerned about our deeds, but our thought life as well.  David knew this, and so he prayed that God would guard his heart as well as his lips.

He also determined to keep a humble, teachable heart that was willing to accept rebuke.  He told God,

Let a righteous man strike me–it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me –it is oil on my head.

My head will not refuse it.  (5)

So many of us take rebuke as burning coals.  But David took it as soothing oil.

This is not to say that the words were soothing at the time.  When Nathan confronted David for his sin with Bathsheba, and his murder of her husband, it must have felt like heaps of burning coals on his head.

Yet he repented, and God forgave and restored him.

That’s one of the keys to fighting temptation.  A humble heart that will accept correction.  A heart that doesn’t harden itself to God’s rebuke.

David then closes by again asking for deliverance from evil, from the people that would destroy him.

Every day, may we pray the same.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  (Matthew 6:13 — NASB).

Categories
2 Chronicles 2 Kings

One bad choice

Kings & Chronicles

Choice.  It is a gift.  And a responsibility. 

Every day, we have choices in life that we face. 

Some choices are mundane.  What to have for breakfast.  Whether to drive or take a bus or train to work.

Other decisions are much more important.  Namely, are we going to follow God today or not?  And more specifically, are we going to follow God in this moment or not?

Josiah for most of his life made the decision to follow God. 

He made many wise decisions in leading his people and was a very good king, one of the best in Israel’s history. 

But one day, for whatever reason, he ignored the voice of God, and it cost him his life.

The king of Egypt had gone out to war, but not against Judah. 

For some reason, Josiah went out to stop him, and the king of Egypt said,

What quarrel is there between you and me, O king of Judah? 

It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. 

God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.  (2 Chronicles 35:21)

This he said at God’s command. (2 Chronicles 35:22)

But Josiah failed to heed God’s voice. 

Why?  I don’t know. 

Pride, perhaps. 

Pride in his army. 

Pride in his strategy to hide his identity in battle. 

Pride, perhaps, that God would not speak to a foreign king.

Whatever the reason, however, Josiah fell that day, and Judah’s fall didn’t come long after that.

Sometimes we have days where we know what’s right, but for whatever reason, choose what is wrong. 

Sometimes we try to justify our actions; other times we don’t even bother to do that. 

But if there’s a lesson to be learned from Josiah, it’s this:  one bad choice can be our undoing. 

It can be our undoing in our marriage, destroying years of marriage with a single act of unfaithfulness. 

It can also be our undoing in ministry, destroying years of credibility with one sinful decision. 

It can be our undoing in many different aspects of life. 

All it takes is one bad choice.

Of course, God will forgive us if we repent.

I believe Josiah went to heaven. God forgave him.

But by his one action, his reign came to an end, as did his life.

So let us make the decision, every moment of every day to follow God. 

And let us always keep in mind the prayer Jesus taught us.

“Lead us not into temptation.”  (Matthew 6:13)

Categories
Exodus

Fighting sin

As I look through this passage and God’s commands to the people concerning the land they were entering, it reminds me of our fight against sin.

God told the people that when they entered the land, he would drive out their enemies before them and ultimately wipe them out.

In the same way, God is constantly working in us to drive out sin in our lives.  And as he does, he doesn’t want any residuals left in our lives. 

Sin is like a cancer, and unless it is completely taken out, it will spread. 

That’s why he said to the Israelites not just to avoid worshiping other gods and idols, but to completely demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces.

That brings up another point. 

It is by God’s power that sin is driven out of our lives.  But we have our part too. 

God said he would wipe out the people inhabiting Canaan, but he also said in verse 31, “You will drive them out.” 

In our fight against sin, we need to actively fight too. 

Part of that is totally getting rid of anything in our lives that would cause us to sin, whether it’s pornography, friends that consistently drag us into sin, or whatever it may be.

But not only that, God told the people,

Do not make a covenant with [the people of the land] or with their gods.

Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.  (Exodus 23:32-33).

In the same way, we are not to let sin live in our hearts, nor are we to make a covenant with it. 

What does it mean to make a covenant with sin?  In short, it means compromise. 

“I know this movie is a little dodgy, but I’ll watch it anyway.” 

Or, “I know I shouldn’t hold on to anger, but I’m going to let myself stay angry until he apologizes.” 

Or, “I know I’m being selfish, but I deserve something for myself.” 

How often do we make these agreements with sin in our lives? 

God says, “Don’t do it.  Don’t let it live in your hearts.  They will be a snare to you.”

One final point.  The fight against sin isn’t fought and defeated in one battle. 

God told the people, “Little by little I will drive [the Canaanites] out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.” (Exodus 23:30)

In the same way, our victory over sin comes over time, as little by little God gives us victory over it. 

Sometimes we will struggle. 

Sometimes we will fall. 

But our ultimate victory is sure.  Just don’t give up.