The Temptations

In my mind, being tempted has always seemed like a certain situation. You're standing there looking at something you really want and you're tempted to steal it or someone is being really mean to you and you are tempted to hit them. God has really opened my eyes lately as to what temptation and salvation are and how I can get a better grasp of them in my own life.

In church we've been going through the book of Acts and we recently came to the chapter where Stephen gives the testimony of Christ's deliverance and thus, is stoned to death. Here's the passage if you'd like to take a minute to read it... Acts 6:8-end, all of chapter 7. He basically gives an account of God's people throughout history. We see that he is pointing out to the Jews that over and over again that they have refused the deliverance of God. We see them desire to be in bondage again in Egypt rather than on their way to the promised land. Then they prefer to wander the desert instead of going into the promised land. They pleaded with Aaron to give them a god they could see, one they could control, instead of surrendering to the God who would give them everything they desired. Israel constantly rebuked and killed prophets coming to them with God's word and Stephen reveals to them that they did the same with God's son Jesus. 

Our pastor really pointed out the idea of us rejecting deliverance. He talked about people wanting to live in their sin rather than surrendering to God, which is very true and sad. But I began to realize how much of my life I did not want to be saved from. My selfishness, my anger, my control and my desire to be better than everyone (yes, sad but true). And it's all because I don't want to admit that I need help! I don't want to change but I have no idea why! God has given us a way out, even from our own personalities and bad habits. There is a freedom we were given in Christ's death... to have power over sin! Yet even us believers continue to wallow in our sinful nature instead of asking God to truly change us.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, to those who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
Romans 8:1-4

The past few weeks have just really awakened me to all the things in my life that are so out of whack. I really aim to serve myself, I am not concerned for the well-being of others and I get so personally offended by others who are simply living the way I am as well. Even though it doesn't feel like my idea of temptation, I saw that I was constantly tempted to react to people and situations in a selfish and unloving way. A change in my heart was certainly overdue but I didn't even want there to be one. I saw myself like the Israelites who would rather stay in bondage than surrender themselves and live in peace. This was just one of the many times I've simply had to confess to the Lord that I am selfish and I don't want to change but I know that I am living in sin and don't want to continue down that path. 

It really has to be God changing us. If we're doing it ourselves, it's only out of selfishness and pride and it will never reveal the love of Christ to others around us. I'm still working on all these things, but let us be reminded daily of our need to turn over our emotions, reactions and our thoughts to God... He is the only one who can make good use out of them.

What am I doing

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
Psalm 84:11

In our women's bible study this verse was one we were to look up and write our thoughts on. I guess I was a little surprised by it. I realized how little I actually believe what it says. Don't get me wrong, I know in my head that this is true and that God only desires good for us but that is so incredibly and completely different from knowing it to a level that changes your life.

We've all heard the phrase "Actions speak louder than words" and many Christians have heard the verse "By this all will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35) but it doesn't really sink in, at least not for me. The truth of this phrase and verse convicts me to really live out what I believe. To love everyone as Christ does and to give of myself more than I expect others to give to me. Our pastor challenged us at Easter service saying "Do you live like you truly believe that all your actions will be rewarded at redemption?" 

When I think about how much more I could be working for God's kingdom instead of myself I realize how little I cling to our Heavenly rewards and our hope of redemption. Instead of seeking to glorify God I spend all my time trying to promote myself. I wonder what good things I am missing out on and how much better I could know our God. If I honestly believe that God desires only good for me then I NEED to be living as if He was everything that mattered to me. And we all should, because at the last moment on this earth we will clearly see how true it was that EVERYTHING rested in God alone.

Credit Where Credit is Due

"For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold - which they prepared for Baal."
Hosea 2:8

The women's bible study I have been going to at Creekside has been such a blessing to me. I've only been involved in BSF before so I figured there would be a bit of a learning curve to how things were done in this new setting. But the women are so easy going and you can tell they really love the Lord. Everyone is included in the discussion, we pray for many needs within the church and it is just a great arena to give and receive support. 

Anyway, this really does lead into my thoughts on the verse in Hosea. We are going through a study in a book called "A Heart that Dances" by Catherine Martin which I must say, I was a bit skeptical about at first :-) It sounded a little cheesy but I decided to just start the study and see what I could get from it. Really, it is the farthest thing from cheesy and is actually one of the most inspirational things I've worked on and read for a while. There are lots of pieces of work within each lesson from great Christians throughout history - people who speak of God in such a way that you can just tell how intimately they experience(d) God in their lives and how real He was to them. 

And that is what this book is for - to learn how to know God and experience His presence in our lives. We started out in Hosea learning about what God called Him to do and witnessing God's interaction with His people demonstrated through Hosea's relationship with the woman he was called to marry. It gave me such a new perspective on true grace - I never realized how unwilling I was to accept things without expectations of performance or anything in return. It's wild to think of God really giving that kind of grace... and it's even crazier to see how we (mere humans thought up by God) think there is honestly something we can do to make up for accepting that grace.

Our discussion in the study eventually led to us talking about God's provision despite our flaws (like how He provided for Israel despite their idolatry) and that is where this verse really impacted me. I realized that 1 - it's not my job to worry about how I am provided for at this time in my life... and 2 -  even if it IS Mark's job, ultimately God is the one who takes care of all our provisions, whether we realize it or not. We can try and take comfort in a job that pays enough, or superior budgeting skills or any of the ways we try and make sure we are secure, but it is all a veil that covers our eyes and deceives us. God is the only one who can do a thing about meeting our provisions. This isn't to say we ought to be careless with what we are given or to use this as an excuse for not paying attention to providing for our families. We ought to take comfort in seeing God's provision despite our ability to give Him anything in return and let that drive us to recognize His presence in our every moment. I know we will be surprised to see how He works.

Hoping and Wishing

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1

Our pastor has been going through Romans for a while now, just taking the entire book chapter by chapter, verse by verse. And I've studied part of Romans before in Bible Study Fellowship - but there are some things coming from the Word that are becoming more real and giving me a new perspective on my faith. This in combination with seeing all the miracles Jesus did recorded in the book of Matthew make me realize how unsure I've been about God's goodness and compassion.

The verses above talk about hope - this is something I don't think we really comprehend to its fullest. Hope isn't like hoping to get what you want for Christmas or hoping that things will work out to your advantage. The hope God has given is a promise - a sure thing. Real, not tangible at this point in our lives, but this hope of eternal life and glory is a guarantee to those who know Him.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but passed from death into life."
John 5:24

This thing we hope for is what our life should be firmly resting on. In Hebrews 11 the author speaks of many great people from the nation of Israel who hoped in the Lord, without wavering, even without seeing the promise fulfilled in their life. How much more evidence do we have the God took care of His people throughout the worst times in History than they did?

We have no reason to not to hope in the Lord's promise as if it has already been given to us - because it has! Jesus said "It is finished" and there should be no doubting on our part. We know that eternal glory is what we were made for so how can we justify doubting the Creator when our minor, earthly circumstances are unstable? Do we not have the surest promise of anyone? Have we not seen more of history come to pass than any other person alive to this point? We truly have no excuse. We ought to live in the full hope of God's promise and not waver and change the way the world does.

We are not asked to believe the impossible by putting our faith in God. He has already shown that there is nothing He cannot do. Think of Abraham - one of the first men to really be asked to trust God fully without a lot of evidence of His work in the lives of others. Abraham was asked to believe the impossible! God told him he would be a father to many nations and that his people would outnumber the stars. That alone would be difficult to swallow, but being his age and being married for who knows how long, and still without one descendant!?! Here's what Paul says about Abraham's faith...

"He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."
Romans 4:20-21

Abraham's hope was completely in God - not in something unsure or someone limited by the world. This is the same for us. We can trust in God fully, without wondering if He has our best interest in mind or doubting that He can do anything He wishes. He created the entire universe and He does not need any earthly means to accomplish what He desires. It really comes down to whether we KNOW He wants to take care of us or whether we WISH He would take care of us.

I find my idea of being taken care of varies depending on my circumstance... which is a terrible excuse to question the character of God. If we claim to know Him, we must believe that He is what He has said and shown. Think of generations of Israelites wandering through the desert, being saved constantly from armies and kingdoms. Remember all the times they turned from God and all the times He made a way for them to be redeemed once again. Know that His greatest desire is to see us come to Him without fear, trusting Him to be the only thing that will ever fullfill our hearts. Our Hope is Him, and He is solid and sure. We should not come to Him doubting, but come boldly to the throne of grace, ready to receive the abundance of life.

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