Tag Archives: Every temptation is an opportunity to trust God

Learning from the past

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In our politically correct society, there are many calls to get rid of things that *someone* thinks is offensive: the cross, the ten commandments, the USA flag, the confederate flag, the word “Dixie.” In one case, there’s a call to sandblast the carved rock images of Confederate soldiers off the side of a mountain. It’s like there is a desire to erase history, when really we should learn from it.

 

Actually, that was the message of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10: Pay attention to the lessons of the past so you don’t repeat their mistakes. He speaks about how the people of Israel did all these religious things, “yet God was not pleased with most of them.” (v 5)

 

Maybe you’d like to join me in going through the checklist of examples Paul lists and see how we fare:

  • Do not be idolaters. (Check. No graven images here, unless you count all the things I place as a higher priority than my relationship with God.)
  • Avoid sexual immorality. (Check… if you don’t count movies and books)
  • Do not test Christ (as with snakes) (Check for sure!)
  • Do not grumble (Che…oops. Well, maybe I still have room to grow a little here!)

 

The truth is, we all fall short. We think we’re on firm ground but if we walk close to the cliff, or on the fence between right and sort of right, it’s easy to misstep and fall. We think we can follow God and watch movies that dishonor him. We think we can lead a “good life” and cheat others. We think we can dance with the world and walk with God. The Israelites tried it and many of them perished in hopelessness; it should be a warning to us: We “can’t drink of the cup of the lord and the cup of demons too.” (v 21)

 

We’re all tempted, and that’s not a sin. Whatever tempts us is common to everyone. You’re not the only one struggling. And when you are tempted, there is a way out of temptation! Jesus IS the way out. He endured all kinds of temptation so he knows what you’re facing. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Every temptation is an opportunity to trust God!

 

The solution isn’t just to flee from selfish and dishonoring ways. It’s not even to focus on trying to do “what’s right.” Our real solution is asking God to show us what’s BEST and most beneficial, what pleases and honors him, what encourages and helps others. I’m not sure it matters whether you sell everything and minister to people in a foreign land or whether you stay home and minister to those across the fence. What matters is that we refuse to let the past define us, but instead learn from it, and commit to honor God by loving him and loving others in his name. May that be the banner we carry today.

 

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

 

Mind games

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Do you ever catch yourself daydreaming? Sometimes we let our mind slip back to a precious moment from the past that spoke truth and value into our lives and we just want to replay it to strengthen us today. Or we might find ourselves dreaming of a beautiful future, anticipating the good plan God has for us, the rewards of faithful living.

 

But daydreaming can also take us where we don’t want to go… the fantasy world of “what if.” It typically starts when you are bored or frustrated or discontented with life. And it leads us down a path of deception.

 

We have an endless capacity to deceive ourselves, asking what if:

‘Wrong’ depends on the situation.
Everyone else does it.
Lies can be justified.
Sin doesn’t matter.

 

We have such disastrous capacity to block out the consequences of our actions, forgetting the past and the future, living only for the moment of today. The truth is – none of us can trust ourselves apart from God. The walls that protect us are of no use if the gates are unwatched. And our mind is the gateway to our whole life: the books we read, the movies we see, the conversations we have, the thoughts we think, the passions we embrace.

 

The world has a different definition of faithfulness than God does. The world says lust can enhance a marriage. Jesus calls it adultery. We think it’s okay to devote a lifetime to meaningless collections and hobbies. If it competes with our passion for God, he calls it idolatry. We try to rationalize a meaningless life but it’s just so many rational lies. What we let in through the gates of our mind can defeat us. We need to be the gatekeepers of our renewed minds.

 

The good news is that the same mind that leads us down the road of sin can lead us back to God. If we are to daydream, we can choose to think about God’s ways, his blessings, his promises. Whatever is noble, true, right, praiseworthy, think about such things. We need to stop rationalizing something’s not wrong and start asking what is the right thing to do!

 

It’s not a game. We’re either in it or we’re not.
God chose you. Choose God again today.
Choose to be the new creation you really are.
Take captive every thought and make it obedient.
Guard the gates.

 

Remember that every temptation is an opportunity to trust God.
He will help you. He will set you free.

 

Think well. Live well. Believe.

It matters.