Temptation, from Mom

Temptation is in inevitable part of the Christian walk.  Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan. Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  Thankfully for us, He didn't give in.   When we are tempted we can be sure that Jesus will be there to help us.  Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.  

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

From Mom

In James 1:12-15 we are told where temptation comes from.   God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.  Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.  And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me."  God is never tempted to do wrong and He never tempts anyone else.  Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.  These desires give birth to sinful actions.  And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.  

So according to the Scripture, temptation comes from wrong desires within.  It begins with a wrong thought and as I dwell on it and then yield, it gives birth to action.  But, I have choices.

Remember, your sinful old life is dead and buried with Christ.  Colossians 2:11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.   This is a powerful motive to resist sin.  You break sin's hold by choosing not to allow it to be in me.  Recall and believe that when you came to Christ, He cut away your sinful nature.  The source of conflict in us is sin.  We were born with the desire to do things "our way."   The only real solution is Jesus, the Son of God. 

In Him, I have a new life and a new spirit, enabling me to choose obedience.  2 Corinthians 5:17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  The choice belongs to us as to whether to follow the new nature, our renewed spirit given to us by Christ or to follow the old sin nature which hangs onto our mind and emotions.  No one, not even Satan, can make you do anything.  Satan's only powers are manipulation and deceit.  2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.  John 8:44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does.  He was a murderer from the beginning.  He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him.  When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.  

From me. 

Romans 8:1-14 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.  So God did what the law could not do.  He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.  And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.  Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.  But letting the Spirit control you mind leads to life and peace.  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.  It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.  That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.  But you are not controlled by your sinful nature.  You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.  (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.)  And Christ lives within you, so even thought your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life, because you have been made right with  God.  The Spirit of God  who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.  Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.  For if you live by its dictates, you will die.  But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 

Amen.  

Lord, I pray that You will help us to believe these truths.  Help us to live them out.  Help us not to be controlled by our sinful nature....not to be lead by emotion and selfishness.  We are so human.  So frail.  So fallible.  So easily led astray.  But that is not what Your Word says.  It is not what needs to be.  If we walk according to Your Word, we will walk in victory.  Help us to remember, believe and submit.  Lord, let Your Holy Spirit control us, let us think on the things that are "true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."  Philippians 4:8.  Keep us in our right minds so that our lives will reflect excellence.  And in that we will glorify You.  Thank You.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

We are under no obligation to follow our sinful nature!  

Whatever

I was out for some exercise a couple of days ago and was, as per usual, listening to Joyce Meyer.  She was talking about spending time with the Lord and I have to say I've heard her speak on this many, many times.  But for some reason, this time it resonated with me in a new and fresh way.  I love when the Lord does that!

Joyce was saying how it doesn't matter so much what you do when you are spending time with the Lord, just that you are taking Him into Your day.  Now, this isn't to say you don't need to do good doctrinal study.  You need to be well grounded in the faith.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  We need solid doctrine, and good teaching to know the Gospel, who we are in Christ, and how that should look in our lives.  We need to know how to share the Gospel, pass our faith onto others.  We need Scriptural knowledge to be a minister of the Gospel, sharing Christ with those around us.       

2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

But spending time with the Lord is supposed to be something we want to do and if we are always making it about studying, cramming our heads full of information, then it becomes a "have to" instead of a want to.  It's about balanced learning and sweet fellowship with our Lord.  Think about it this way, if you have a friend who only wants to be serious and talk about all the facts and figures...would you really want to hang out with them much?  Or do you want someone who you can get to know, laugh with, cry with, just be yourself and be real?  

For some reason hearing this the other day just made being with the Lord more real and more comfortable to me.  As I ran that day, I prayed.  I let the Holy Spirit guide my prayers.  And I took time to enjoy the sunshine and sweet smell of summer that the my Father had gifted me with.  My heart and my face just smiled as I connected with heaven.  

I love keeping the communication lines open.  I speak with the Lord often throughout the day.  We don't always have to sit in a quiet place and memorize a chapter a day, spend an hour in prayer...scheduled and regimented.  There is a time and place for those things.  But being with our Savior should be easy, and comfortable.   Yes, we approach Him with honor and reverence, He is God of the universe, Creator and sustainer.  But He is also our Dad.  Our loving Father and Savior who longs to spend time with us.  

Take a walk.  Sit quietly and gaze outside.  Work in the garden or paint a picture.  But do it with God.  Invite Him into whatever You do and just enjoy His Presence.  

Lord, when I think of how You want to spend time with us, how You are even interested in us and want to bless us, it just blows me away, sets me in awe of You.  Lord, let our hearts long for communion with You.  Fill us with the need and desire that only You can fill, Your Presence.  I'm so amazed that we can come to You and "just hang out."  It's ok to just "be with You."  To enjoy sweet fellowship, with no agenda or schedule.   Lord, yes we need to study to show ourselves approved.  But help us to not be so dogmatic and legalistic that we can't just enjoy being with You.  We are the most blessed people on earth to call You Father.  Thank You.  I am just in awe of You.

Just be with Jesus.  

 

Kingdom

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

When we think of a kingdom we think of pomp and circumstance.  We think of riches and we think of ceremony and power. Fancily dressed people being honored and bowed before for just being related to a certain person.  Crowns and crests.   What a contrast between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of our Lord.  He came as a simple carpenter and called other average men and women to share the news of a new type of kingdom.  A kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy...a kingdom not just on the outside, but on the inside of every heart that calls Him Lord.  Crowns, kingdoms and nations will all pass away, but the kingdom of our Lord will remain forever.  

I kind of always think of the Kingdom of God has being "outside" of me.  It's the actions we do, the Gospel we preach.  But today I was reminded that it is also on the inside of me.  It's the righteousness, peace and joy that lives in my heart because of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.  Out of those things flow the stuff on the outside, our words, our actions and attitudes.  

And all of these things are planted within our hearts as seed by the Holy Spirit.  And it is with Him that we work to grow more and more like the Lord we serve.  Our job is to seek to bear the fruit that comes from walking with Jesus.  Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  This is what flows out of a heart that is fully submitted to God.  James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

I want so much to have a heart that is fully committed and submitted to the Lord.  I pray each day for this heart.  There's a lot of junk in there though.  But like a metalsmith refining gold, the Holy Spirit is refining me every day.  As I cooperate with Him, He skims off the dross to reveal a heart that will reflect God's own heart.  And a life that reflects the righteousness, peace and joy that comes from the Lord Himself.  

Lord, help us to make Your Kingdom a reality in our hearts.  You have planted Your seeds in us, we ask that You now give us submitted spirits and wills that we may bear Your fruit and Your image to those around us.  Change us and grow us each and every day.  Help us to lay down our lives and follow You.  And it is in our precious Savior's Name we prayer.  Amen. 

Pray the Lord to remind you of the kingdom within.   

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Repeats

A verse, a message, a song, a single word....God sends them to us to teach, lead, comfort or correct.  And when He repeats the message either in the same or a different way it's time to pay attention.  I have a quite a few repeats over the last week and I know that means it's time to sit down with the Lord for prayer and study to see what He is trying to tell me.  

Psalm 16 has been one of those repeated verses.  

Keep me safe O God, for I have come to You for refuge.  I said to the Lord, "You are my Master!  Every good think I have comes from You."  The godly people in the land are my true heroes!  I take pleasure in them!  Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.  I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.  Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.  You guard all that is mine.  The land you have given me is a pleasant land.  What a wonderful inheritance!  I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.  No wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice.  My body rests in safety.  For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow Your Holy One to rot in the grave.  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.  

What beautiful words of comfort and promise.  I was so blessed once again as I typed those loving words.

1 Peter 2:3  Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual mild so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.  Cry out for this nourishment, no that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. 

1 Peter 1:13 So think clearly and exercise self-control.  

1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert!  Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Colossians 4:2  Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.  

The repeat phrase up there was "taste of the Lord's kindness."  The repeat theme was coming away and spending time with the Lord in prayer and study.  My Father has been dealing with me on turning off the tv at night and taking that time to feed on the Word and seek Him.  I feel Jesus is calling me to prayer more and more.  It's time to exercise the self control mentioned in 1 Peter 1:13 so I can think clearly and stay in the strength of my Savior in these trying times.  

The word for me that keeps coming up lately is "gentleness."   Something I need to work on.  

James 3:17  But the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and good deeds.  It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against these things.  

Repeats.  God's way of getting our attention!  

Lord, thank You for calling to us, even when we a slow to listen.  Thank You for surrounding us with You love and care, again and again.  I am in awe that You never seem to tire of me, of repeating the things I need to hear.  You are gracious and kind. As you gave Noah Your rainbow in the sky as a promise, so too You give us Your Word and Your continued reminders that You love us and are with us.  What an awesome God we serve.  Help us to be quick to listen, soften our hearts to obey, let people see You in us because we spend time in Your Presence.  Be glorified.  In the Name of our beautiful Savior.  Amen.

What are your repeats?  

Royalty

I was doing my devotional in "31 Days of Praise" by Ruth and Warren Myers recently and the Holy Spirit stopped me at the line, "How wonderful that You, the high King of heaven, enthroned far above all other powers in heaven and earth, have bestowed on me the royal dignity of being Your child and heir!"  

Think about this for a few minutes.  We are royal.  We are children and heirs of the most High God.  Romans 8:16-17 For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.  And since we are His children, we are heirs of God's glory.  But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.    1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.  

As I thought about this statement in the devotional, I realized I never think about this truth.  Like a young child born into a royal family, I run around not realizing my true identity and heritage.  I just "be a kid."  But eventually that child matures and with that maturity takes on the responsibilities of their station in life.  They come to know their true identity is royalty and with it comes the dignity and responsibility of that position.  They are no longer running around playing in the mud and climbing trees, but are taking on the duties of an adult in the kingdom.  Their actions now reflect their new level of maturity and in that way they represent their monarchy.  

When I am born again, I am born into a royal family.  I don't know much in the beginning of my new life.  I'm a baby Christian. I am not meant to stay there though.  As I grow, I follow what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:11 "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things."  I learn my true identity in Christ and show more and more of His character.  I now have the responsibility to share the Gospel, work for the kingdom and show His love and glory to those around me.  From the devotional: "I have been linked to the greatest possible purposes, the highest of all reasons for living: to know You and love You...to show Your love to other people...to glorify You...and to enjoy You now and forever."

As we grow in Christ, we grow in responsibility.  But we also are given authority and privilege.  We have authority to work in the Name of Jesus Christ...His work,  Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.   We also have the privilege of being called His children. 

Romans 1:5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

Romans 5:2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Philippians 1:29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Lord, what an amazing gift You've given.  We are Your royal children.  We desire to grow into that honor and title.  Help us to put away childish things and take up the mantle of Christ, to Your glory. Help us remember who we are.  Forgive us when we forget.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Practice remembering who you are in Christ.  

Ephesians 1:5 God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family, bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.