Hey guys! First of all i just want to say that ive been praying for everyone on here that has been posting. Ok soo im reading through chapter 4 right now of Matthew and there was something that caught my eye. Jesus is being tempted by the devil here. When the devil takes Jesus to the highest point of the temple he states, "If you are the Son of God, jump off!" For the Scriptures say, "He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold up their hands so you wont even hurt your foot on a stone." JESUS RESPONDED WITH: "THE SCRIPTURES ALSO SAY, "YOU MUST NOT TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD." That's what i spent all of my quiet time thinking about...this one quote. Because: 1) It shows us that even JESUS, the SON OF GOD was tested by the devil. Even though he resisted him i think it shows us that we are tested no matter what is going on in our lives. Whether were struggling with cussing or coveting or anything else, we are all tempted. 2) I struggle with not testing the Lord. Every day it's something new, and i dont even think i realized i was testing God's word until now. Sinning=Testing. We all do it! Why is it that it was so easy for the Lord to resist the devil and we fall short allll the time. It stinks! 3) It was so cool to see that once Jesus told the devil to go away at the end of the passage, he did, and God opened the doors. God's grace is unbelievable and amazing. We are so blessed that all he asks of us is to repent, and He becomes present. Ive been praying lately that God makes it known to me when im sinning. That i hear a voice in the back of my head telling me that what im doing is considered "testing" him. And you know what? I think he has really been showing me. Ive held back from conversations with some of my friends when it comes to gossiping and God's word becomes ever so present. "Tame your tongue" is lingering in the back of my head. His word is changing my conversations and my life! My prayer is that God keeps showing me that His word changes me!
Ill post more lata!
Sam
This passage is really cool. I loved all that you got out of that passage by the way. I am super encouraged. I was just thinking today... I was sitting at the Sky Ranch back to school kickoff party and Tim Hollis (Morph counselor) was leading worship. I couldn't focus and I was really distracted by these thoughts and it seemed like as hard as I tried to focus in on worshiping God, I couldn't. I remember thinking I wonder if Jesus really did get tempted and tested in the same way that I am right now... cuz I feel like there is no way he could have. But then, I remembered that God created me the way that I am and he totally understands the thoughts and distractions that were driving me crazy. It was encouraging... still took me a few songs to get undistracted, but through persistence it passed and I was able to take my mind of dumb stuff and worship my creator for who he is.
ReplyDeleteChrist can empathize with us because he has been there. He was tested and tried just like us. SO encouraging to have a God who understands my dumb thoughts!
You should also read Hebrews 2:17-18, and 4:14-16 where the writer is talking all about Christ as our sympathetic high priest. Very encouraging post.
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