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| "Get outta My Way" Corel Painter X3, Digital Painting © Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved. |
My last post got me thinking. Entering God's rest isn't death (although Heaven will be an awesome place!). It's being able to sleep through a hurricane. It's being able to find words to say when my mind goes blank and someone needs encouragement. It's being able to change chaos into peace by simply praying and asking for the Holy Spirit's help. It's seeing people get healed. It's about finding courage when I'm scared. I have experienced all of these. But that's God's way isn't it? He uses those who are weak, and not the perfect. That's me! I have all sorts of strengths and abilities, but being perfect is just not going to happen : ) Shew! We don't have to worry about that one. God included true stories in the Bible, about Moses, Jonah and others so we could have hope.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
(1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NKJV)
Hebrews 4:11-16
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
The Bible is our sword in this crazy world. To me it's a sanctuary when I've been hurt. It's a strong tower that raises me up to greater thoughts and higher actions. I like to quote scriptures when I need help and pray.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
This always catches my attention. Jesus, the Son of God and man, actually chose to endure all the temptations we deal with on a daily basis. It's a jungle out there! Here's what Jesus endured:
1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
When we get hungry we lose physical strength. Our brains can't think clearly. Pain is exaggerated. Jesus endured 40 days of fasting. He was very hungry.
3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
The first temptation was to end His physical suffering. The devil taunted him to turn a rock into bread. I might fail at this one. I hate to be hungry.
4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Jesus' would not steal a miracle for His stomach. Sometimes, as humans we let our stomachs take God's place. Food becomes like a god to us, our source of happiness, and devotion, but it's deceptive. We are never full. The more we eat the more our bodies demand. In the wrong spirit, food can kill us with obesity. Guess it would be best to put God's Word and our faith above food. Memorizing verses is a good plan.
5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. ’”
Jesus quoted the first of the ten commandments. His mission wasn't to become an earthly king for a generation. It was to save mankind for eternity. Besides all the kingdoms are really His already.
9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’
11 and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone. ’”
12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “ It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God. ’”
I believe Jesus' temptations were written to understand our weakness and also to illustrate some things not to do. As little kids we learn about gravity and how much it hurts to fall down. We are not to do things against the laws of nature. He has given us a warning light inside. It's the little tingle I feel when it's dark out and there are strangers standing around. We are not to test God. But sometimes use the plain old common sense we were born with.
13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
So satan gave up tempting Jesus for now. But he was scheming behind the scenes.
(Luke 4:1-13 NKJV)
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Because of His great love, sacrifice, and compassion for our weaknesses, He actually walked in our shoes. Can you imagine? We can go to God freely. He created us to have fellowship with Him. To find rest in our faith in Him. He has always answered, "No." When I ask for the wrong things.
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