Category Archives: Temptation & Sin

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

February 12, 2015

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

WHO’S YOUR ROLE MODEL?

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. [Deuteronomy 18:9 (NLT)]

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [Romans 12:2 (NLT)]

2-12-15webJackie Robinson was an American hero. A man of enormous talent, good character, and tremendous courage, he broke the color barrier by being the first black player in major league baseball. This sports legend has been a role model for children of all colors. How sad that his name was recently dishonored by the actions of a few men who knowingly broke the rules of Little League baseball.

Last year, Chicago was thrilled to finally have a winning baseball team, even if it was a group of inner city youngsters from the Jackie Robinson West Little League. It was the heartwarming story of the summer as we learned about these disadvantaged kids who moved victoriously through the Little League International World Series tournament. They made it all the way to the finals before losing to South Korea. The city rallied around the team: money was raised for their travel expenses, watching parties were organized, parades were held and the team members even visited the White House. These children accomplished a great deal and no one says they didn’t play fair. The adults involved, however, cheated by placing players on the team who were unqualified because they lived outside the league’s boundaries. The team has now been stripped of its U.S. title and of all the victories that led to that championship.

This wasn’t the first Little League scandal; in fact, it’s the third time a team has had its World Series wins vacated because of similar rule infractions. Cheating and sports are becoming synonymous: doping scandals, DeflateGate, point shaving, gambling, and even using nondisabled players at the Paralympic games! It’s not just in sports either; respected newscasters are revealed as liars and we find scandals in the once respected institutions of the Secret Service, universities, government and even the church. As my Grandmother used to say, “It looks like we’re all going to Hell in a hand basket!”

The Israelites were called to live holy lives and warned not to imitate the customs of the pagan Canaanites. We are still called to live holy lives and warned not to imitate the sinful ways of the world. That’s difficult, however, when immoral, criminal and evil behavior seem to be an everyday occurrence. More important, we all know that children learn by imitating their elders. What kinds of examples are they getting in this fallen world of ours?

Father, show us how to live in such a way that we remain untouched by the evil of our world. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we follow the example of your son, Jesus Christ, and can become role models of Christian life.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. [Ephesians 5:1-2a (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

February 4, 2015

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

THE BEST POLICY

The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. [Proverbs 12:22 (NLT)]

Keep me from lying and being dishonest. [Proverbs 30:8a (NCV)]

Lord, help me do a bit of soul searching about honesty. If I manipulate others to get something I want, is that dishonest? What about the excuses I use on occasion to justify my behavior? Are my motives always as altruistic as I say they are? Do I ever lie to myself so I won’t have to face an unpleasant truth? What about those seemingly harmless “white lies” that are so commonplace in conversation: are they so wrong? If a little deceit is acceptable, at what point does deceit become wrong? What is the difference between a half-truth and a half-lie, when the purpose of both is to deceive another person? Lord, don’t let me to be dishonest to others; more important, don’t allow me to be dishonest to myself. Let your righteousness guide me in a life of integrity, truth and honor.

Lord, who may enter your Holy Tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? Only those who are innocent and who do what is right. Such people speak the truth from their hearts and do not tell lies about others. They do no wrong to their neighbors and do not gossip. [Psalm 15:1-3 (NCV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

February 2, 2015

Posted under

Bible Stories, God's Word: The Bible, Temptation & Sin, Trusting God

WHO DO YOU TRUST?

12-30-14Trust1WEBGod commanded the Man, “You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead.” … The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.” When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. [Genesis 2:16-17, 3:4-6 (MSG)]

Eve saw what she wanted and couldn’t possess. God clearly said this was the one thing Adam and Eve couldn’t have in the paradise in which they lived. Satan, however, told her otherwise; he told her what she wanted to hear. Was the tree more seductive, did she crave it all the more, because it was forbidden? Eve saw what she desired and took it. She trusted what she saw, a beautiful tree with delicious looking fruit, instead of what she’d been told by God. She sinned because she walked by sight toward what she desired instead of by walking by faith in God’s word. Unfortunately, mankind has continued down that path ever since. Who is the wiser, God or us? Who loves us, God or Satan? Whose words will we believe? Who do we trust?

Father, fill us with your Spirit so we always walk, not by sight, but by faith. Strengthen us so that desire never tempts us to ignore your word.

All the cunning of the devil is exercised in trying to tear us away from the word. [Martin Luther]

Yahweh: You’ve been unhappy because you’ve desired things that cannot be.
Lucifer: That’s what desire is. The need for what we can’t have. The need for what’s readily available is called greed. [Mike Carey, from “Lucifer, Vol. 11: Evensong”]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

January 30, 2015

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Love & Works, Temptation & Sin

HE CAME FOR EVERYONE

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16 NLT)]

That’s you, my friend, and me. It’s everyone else, too. Salvation isn’t just for the rich or pretty, the respected and comfortable, the intelligent and wealthy. It’s for all of us, no matter our color or nationality, our education or profession, our hygiene or attire. Let’s always remember that God has an “open door” policy; he loves us all and all are welcome in His house.

Jesus surrounded himself with an assorted group of people: tax collectors, fishermen, the mentally ill and handicapped, laborers, children, and even women of questionable reputations. He came for them all and loved them all. Every church has an interesting mix of people and we might find some of them a bit annoying at times. Perhaps it’s the special needs man who talks too loudly, the oddly dressed woman who seems to come only for the cookies and coffee, the smoker who brings the aroma of stale cigarettes with him to the sanctuary, the woman who falls asleep during the sermon and snores, the cougher who sits behind you and the lady next to him who loudly sings off key, the babies who cry, the kids who fidget, the person with body odor who sits beside you, or the ladies who whisper to one another during service. If we don’t like the person we’re sitting next to at church, it’s time to do a little soul searching. Remember, since God loved him enough to die for him, we ought to be able to muster up a little love, patience and tolerance for our neighbor. After all, he may have some misgivings about us, as well!

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. [Romans 12:3-5 (NLT)]

Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. [1 Peter 2:17a (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

January 22, 2015

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Temptation & Sin, Today: Make it Count

TENDING HIS TEMPLE

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! [Psalm 139:13-14 (MSG)]

DSC00960WEB
When one gets to a certain age, a frequent sentiment heard at birthday celebrations (especially those landmark ones) is, “It’s all downhill from here.” Age, however, is certainly no excuse to stop caring for our bodies. We may not be getting any younger, but we can get better or, at least, no worse. That is, most, but not all of us, can. A woman suffering from Parkinson’s pointed out that, “It’s not easy waking every day and knowing this is the very best I’ll ever be!” Her words resonated in my heart. I thought of my friends and family who’ve had progressive diseases like Parkinson’s, MS, Alzheimer’s, and ALS. Sure, there are things that can be done to slow down the progression of their diseases but nothing, short of a miracle, is ever going to return them to health.

The woman’s words came to mind recently while taking photos before church. One overweight man said, “Wait” and hid the doughnut behind his back before turning to the camera and smiling. “I’m supposed to be on a diet,” he added as explanation. He wanted no record of his misstep, ignoring the fact his arteries and blood sugar would know, whether or not his wife ever did. What’s so bad about a doughnut? For many, they can be an occasional treat but for others, like this man, a diabetic who’s had several heart attacks and is a regular guest in the cardiac care unit, that doughnut is a major offense against his already badly damaged body. Unlike this man, I suspect that woman with Parkinson’s wouldn’t ignore any medical advice that could improve her life. She knows how precious it is.

We are amazingly and wonderfully made and, for most of us, it doesn’t have to be all downhill from here. Paul tells us our bodies are a sacred place: the temple of the Holy Spirit. It’s not just our souls that belong to God; our bodies do, too; He paid a high price for us, body and soul. While we wouldn’t damage or vandalize our churches, we tend to be much more cavalier and negligent with our bodies. We must care for God’s dwelling place as much as we would His church!

Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body. [1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (MSG)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 22, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

A FULL EXAMINATION

Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I’m fit inside and out. [Psalm 26:2 (MSG)]

This last month, I’ve visited the internist, ophthalmologist, OB/GYN, dentist, and dermatologist. I’ve been tested, poked, prodded and thoroughly studied, inside and out. The most humbling experience, however, was the total body examination at the dermatologist’s office. Needless to say, I was uncomfortable having two people I don’t know peering at every inch of skin on my old body with a magnifying glass! They scrutinized every wrinkle, freckle, spot and scar, even in places where “the sun doesn’t shine.” Their inspection, however, found some things that shouldn’t be there: suspicious moles and actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous cells). These things that didn’t belong, these things that threatened my future health, were removed. I can’t say it was a pleasant experience but it was necessary. It was for my own good!

Like physicians, God also examines us closely. Unlike doctors, however, He doesn’t do it only once or twice a year; He does it continually. He knows our every thought and He scrutinizes both our strengths and weaknesses. He searches for the faults that, like pre-cancerous cells, can grow inside us and threaten our spiritual health. Like the dermatologist, He looks for the things that don’t belong in us and that need to be removed. God, however, looks way below the skin at things like prejudice, resentment, fear, anger, willfulness and pride. Unfortunately, it will take more than an hour in God’s office to remove our flaws, and often it will seem more painful. Nevertheless, it is for our own good!

Father, examine me and perform any necessary surgery on my soul. Let your Holy Spirit fill me with your guidance, strength and healing.

It’s harder to lose five negative thoughts than to lose five pounds. [From “Be the Miracle” by Regina Brett]

The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! [Revelation 3:19 (MSG)]

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. [Jeremiah 10:23-24a (NLT)]