In Spite of One’s Better Judgement

Why do people give in to certain temptations? Temptation is a desire to do something wrong or unwise. A thing or course of action that attracts or tempts someone. It is also known as: desire, urge, itch, impulse, inclination, allurement, enticement, seduction, attraction, draw, pull, appeal, fasceination. Temptation is usually an act with negative connotations that tends to lead someone to regret the action. “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives to death.” (James 1:15) 

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Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! 
You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; 
he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. 
Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food 
until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:1-24) Since the beginning of time Satan has continually used this tactic with all of us.

I have contemplated many times, and have been angry just as many, how Adam and Eve could have been so stupid to have thrown away all the wonders God had given them. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3) I have come to a realization that I most certainly would have fallen for Satan’s tactic, as I have done so in the past. Now with God’s amor and strength I am better protected and more wise to the devil’s ways.

I hear a lot of people say, “God is tempting me.” In James 1:13 we see this is not true, “When tempted, no one should say ‘God is tempting me.’ For God can not be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” ( James 1:13) Temptation comes from Satan as Jesus speaks about this, “He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’ ( Mark 8:32-33)

In the Gospels of Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13, is the accounting of Jesus’ temptation. After 40 days without food, Jesus was hungry and weak. Ahead of Him loomed the cross. But all He had to do was listen to the devil to change all that. Before Him was a golden opportunity to satisfy His body and avoid the torment of crucifixion. But He didn’t give in. Jesus having refused each temptation, the devil departed and angels came and brought nourishment to Jesus. He showed how important it is to see some situations as temptations to be resisted rather than opportunities to be seized.

We learn from Jesus’ temptation that when we have an occasion to sin, God will provide a way for us to escape or He will give us the strength to resist it. “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). By relying on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God as Jesus did, we can resist temptation.

Temptation wears a disguise when it slithers into our lives. Satan uses the same tactics today as he did way back at the beginning of time. Satan is the ultimate source of temptation in our lives. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden and you must not touch it, or you will die.” (Genesis 3:1) “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. 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.” (John 8:44) God’s Word warns us, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Cor. 11:14-15).

As Christians we must be vigilant to prevent such a crafty deceiver from sneaking into our lives. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) We need to be watchful so that we can evade temptations.

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What’s LOVE Got To Do With It?

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I am no expert in love. If I were, I would be a billionaire. But Valentines day is around the corner and it started me thinking about love, or who deserves our love the most.

We all have love in us. We love items, pets, parents, family, friends, neighbors, strangers, etc..There are two-in-one I love the most, God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior.

In Psalm 136 God loves us forever and beyond. It says so 26 times.

“He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and , ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22)

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:7-12).

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:16)

From the examples above I conclude God is Love, nothing but love and His love is very different from human love. God’s love is unconditional. He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son to restore that relationship.

God created you out of pure love. God made you from His own image and with love. Whatever you have done, God has dissolved it already in his love even before you do it. God knows all of what you are going to do before you do it.

I love my parents. I love my family. I love my pets. I love my friends. I love you. When it comes to love, there is no one who deserves my love more than anyone or any thing; that is God and Jesus Christ.

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Appearances Can Be Deceiving

We idolize the rich, the smart, the glamorous, and the famous. When we pass God‘s pearly gates in Heaven are only beautiful and unblemished people going to be allowed through? No, God does not look at you the way people do. Our Father is looking for a different kind of beauty. 

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4) “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7) God is looking at the beauty in a person’s heart; a heart that is willing to serve Him. Submitting to God’s will is far more important than outward appearance. God loves the ugly, the ordinary, and the beautiful all the same when we devote ourselves to God’s purposes.

On a side note, in my career as a Social Worker I have noticed people have many faces or masks. They act one way in one situation and then totally different in others. Do you act different at church and then different at home, school, and work? Is there anything away from church that you would not do while attending church? “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness ‘ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1) Are you a hypocrite? When we gather to worship God and His son Jesus Christ do not hide behind a mask. Be honest and open. God is looking at the beauty of those who worship Him and give themselves in love to others.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, you eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:14-16) God formed and God made us the way we are for a reason. The Lord is more concerned with how our heart looks than how we appear to others.

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Sticks Break Bones But Words Wound Deeply

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This is something that you say which means that people cannot hurt you with bad things they say or write about you. Pish-Posh, words do hurt. 

In todays society we are quick to judge others and speak our minds. Often times negatively. Some people are so angry and bitter that they are ready to strike out at everyone.“When words are many, sin is not absent.” (Proverbs10:19) 

Research shows that hurtful words are stored in the brain’s memories, a pain matrix if you will. When triggered it reminds us to avoid painful situations and people in the future. Those words can scar you emotionally for life.

Does being a Christian make any difference in the kinds of things you choose to do or say? It should. “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Ephesians 4:31) Be so sensitive to everyone’s needs, hurts, and disappointments. Let no unkind words come from your mouth and heart.

“‘You have heard that is said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the the evil and the good, and sends rain on on the righteous and the unrighteous.’” (Matthew 5:43-45) Jesus pointed out in the Sermon on the Mountto love the people who treat you right but the hard part comes in the commandment to love those who are not so nice. 

King Solomon wrote: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18) We desire words of encouragement, understanding, and reassurance. A lot of times all we need is a kind word to pick us up or get us through the day. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6) “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15) “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23) Always be vigilant and evaluate your behavior and what you say to others. A sharp tongue leaves a scar, while a helpful word heals the heart.

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Plan For The New Year

I know it is cliché but plans for everyone’s New Year resolutions for the upcoming year are being made right now. How can you make your life different? There are always things we can change, improve on, or are unhappy about. Have you given any thought to your spiritual modifications? 

Are your devotional habits weak, inconsistent, or nonexistent? One of the simplest things is to read 5-10 minutes from your Bible. Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24). The prophet Ezekiel also wrote: “As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you and listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.” (Ezekiel 33:30-31)

Psalm 119 tells of the importance of God’s words, the Bible. Within the pages we find what God wants us to believe (Acts 16:31), how to be (Ephesians 4:32), and what to do (Mark 16:15). “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Bible is God’s truth and is full of His promises. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a lier.” (Proverbs 30:5-6) The Bible is the word of the living God.

When reading God’s word take special care and thought into what you are reading. If we read too hurriedly or without thought, we will miss His important messages. During that 5-10 minutes give your devotional time your complete attention.

Now take what knowledge you have gathered from the Scripture and go out and practice what you have read. God’s word will strengthen you in your walk with Him. The scripture is there to give us direction, correction, and protection in our daily life. Start off the new year by having a great foundation to build each day on.

Sometimes our resolutions are carried out only for a little while (a few weeks experts say) and then forgotten. What one promise can you make to our Heavenly Father that you can stick to all year? Ask yourself how you can live to please God.

Read the Bible…live God’s words.

Read: Psalm 119:11-12 & 16; Palm 119:105; Psalm 119:130; Psalm 119:162; Colossians 1:27-2:3; Colossians 2:2-3

Here are some things you can concentrate on and strengthen your spiritual growth for the coming year:

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44)

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfullness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

“ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)

“And this is, love; that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 1:6)

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