“It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” Matt 4:4
Contextually, Satan is appealing to Jesus' human need for food after a 40 day fast in the wilderness. His effort was an attempt to get Jesus to sin. One of the three main ways we are tempted is the lust of the flesh (the other two are the lust of the eye and the pride of life according to 1 John 3:16). How many of us submit ourselves to sin because of the things that our flesh craves?
Jesus lifts the conversation by indicating that there are more important things in life than the satisfying of what the body needs. We are not just physical beings but spiritual beings also. Long after our current bodies have gone the way of decay, our spirits (which will be housed in glorified bodies) will continue on into eternity. The best way to determine how that eternity will be spent (and whether we get the glorified body) is found in our attendance to the word of God.
Beloved, so often we allow our attention to be distracted by things that have questionable benefit. We suffer from a type of spiritual ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). We need not be concerned about the needs of the body. The Lord has said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you" Matt 6:33. The psalmist likewise said, "I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread" Psa 37:25. God knows exactly what we need and He does provide. Ours is to focus on His word wherein true nourishment is derived.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Showing posts with label Word from God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Word from God. Show all posts
Friday, March 2, 2012
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Godly Structure for Godly Living-DD 4/19/2011
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." Ps 119:9
As members of a society, each of us subjects ourselves to some set of guidelines, rules or laws. These observances help identify us and provides structure for our interactions with others. We are, for example, subject to the laws enacted by the Congress of the United States. We participate in that we elect representatives to go to the nation's capital and enact these laws on our behalf. We do the same thing for the states and cities in which we live. The schools our children attend have rules and many of us are even subject to neighborhood associations. Failure to act according to these tenants comes with consequences. These consequences could involve removal from society through incarceration. Even there, however, there are rules to which one must adhere.
When it comes to our spiritual lives, it is the very word of God from which we receive our rules, laws and commands for living. When we accept the gospel, we willingly accept His will in our lives. Rather than being restrictive, God's law is designed to provide freedom. When properly applied to our lives, it can provide freedom from hard lessons, the consequences of sin and spiritual death (among many others).
Beloved, when we come to an understanding of who God is, our desire should be to be found completely enclosed within His will. We dare not hazard being found near the border or hanging out on the margin. There is danger there. Our goal should be to pursue perfection in all things that are pleasing to Him who made us. His word is the ever shinning light that beckons us from the dark and keeps us in the glow of His Love. Let us be found there in all that we think, say and do.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
As members of a society, each of us subjects ourselves to some set of guidelines, rules or laws. These observances help identify us and provides structure for our interactions with others. We are, for example, subject to the laws enacted by the Congress of the United States. We participate in that we elect representatives to go to the nation's capital and enact these laws on our behalf. We do the same thing for the states and cities in which we live. The schools our children attend have rules and many of us are even subject to neighborhood associations. Failure to act according to these tenants comes with consequences. These consequences could involve removal from society through incarceration. Even there, however, there are rules to which one must adhere.
When it comes to our spiritual lives, it is the very word of God from which we receive our rules, laws and commands for living. When we accept the gospel, we willingly accept His will in our lives. Rather than being restrictive, God's law is designed to provide freedom. When properly applied to our lives, it can provide freedom from hard lessons, the consequences of sin and spiritual death (among many others).
Beloved, when we come to an understanding of who God is, our desire should be to be found completely enclosed within His will. We dare not hazard being found near the border or hanging out on the margin. There is danger there. Our goal should be to pursue perfection in all things that are pleasing to Him who made us. His word is the ever shinning light that beckons us from the dark and keeps us in the glow of His Love. Let us be found there in all that we think, say and do.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Is There A Word From God?-DD 1/19/2011
"Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord? And Jeremiah said, There is:" Jer 37:17
As we examine the world we live in today, there are often more questions than answers. There are wars and rumors of wars, economic woes and senseless killing of innocent people. We are surrounded by a world of deteriorating morality, incurable illnesses and the prosperity of the wicked. These and many other things beg the question, "Is there a word from the Lord?"
Beloved, surely there is. God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. There has never been a time when he has not been with us. He has communicated His will and way to us from the very beginning of our existence. This has continued to this day: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe." Heb 1:1-2
In challenging times like these, His word still speaks to us. Though the bible was written thousands of years ago and directed to a particular people of a particular time and place, the principles are absolutely timeless and can be applied to every aspect of our lives. After all, the words of this passage were uttered during a time of extreme duress for the people of God and His prophet in particular. Just as God spoke then, He still speaks today. Can you discern what He is saying to you?
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
As we examine the world we live in today, there are often more questions than answers. There are wars and rumors of wars, economic woes and senseless killing of innocent people. We are surrounded by a world of deteriorating morality, incurable illnesses and the prosperity of the wicked. These and many other things beg the question, "Is there a word from the Lord?"
Beloved, surely there is. God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. There has never been a time when he has not been with us. He has communicated His will and way to us from the very beginning of our existence. This has continued to this day: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe." Heb 1:1-2
In challenging times like these, His word still speaks to us. Though the bible was written thousands of years ago and directed to a particular people of a particular time and place, the principles are absolutely timeless and can be applied to every aspect of our lives. After all, the words of this passage were uttered during a time of extreme duress for the people of God and His prophet in particular. Just as God spoke then, He still speaks today. Can you discern what He is saying to you?
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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