Common Temptation

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  1 Corinthians 10:13a(NIV)

Paul tells the folks in Corinth back in the day that the tempation that they had to deal with, that “seized” them, was nothing special or unique.  I find it is exactly the same for me.  It isn’t unique or complicated.  It’s common.  It’s not new.  It’s even predicatable.  The tempations I will deal with tomorrow are pretty much the same ones I dealt with today, and the day before that, and the day before that,  etc, etc……

In my vast experience with temptation, I find that when I fall, it’s pretty likely I’ll be given another chance to fall in a very similar way again soon.  And if I sucessfully resist a temptation for a while, there’s no reason to assume that I’ve defeated that temptation permanently.  My enemy will just trot it out again for me in an opportune moment, and if I’ve fallen for it before, I’m inclined to do it again. 

And I suspect all men deal with the same common temptations, though employing different vehicles and in different degrees.  Sex, money, power,  and a neverending variety of idols really are pretty common, aren’t they?  By the way, recognizing temptation for what it is when we encounter it is a biggish first step……

Believe and Obey

And Peter answered Him (Jesus) and said, “Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.  And He said, “Come!”  And Peter got out of the boat……  Matthew 14:28-29a (NASB)

Been reading a book called THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (I just wanted to say that because it sounds so impressive.) and the author uses this story where Peter walks on water at Jesus’ command as an example of how belief and obedience intersect.  When Jesus told Peter to “come,” Peter’s faith hinged upon obedience.  He could have told himself he had all the faith in the world, but how real would his faith be without the act of obeying.   Bonhoeffer says it this way, “only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”   Wow.

Know this is pretty deep for a Tuesday morning after a holiday weekend, but I think it is important.  If I actually believe, the more I will obey what God tells me to do, whether commands in the Bible or that “nudge” I feel inside that I believe is the Holy Spirit.  Conversely, if I disobey the clear call of God (and I can talk myself out of obeying pretty  readily), then my belief is in danger because my disobedience is an obstacle to my relationship with God.  Probably said it poorly , but there it is……

Twenty Bad Answers

I didn’t really think that far ahead.  Live with what?  But God wants me to be happy.  Stay out of my business.  Don’t bring my family into this.  Everybody loses their tempter.  Well I just thought somebody should know.  Why do I always have to be responsible, can’t I just hang out and have fun?  I’m not sure I want to spend my life with him/her, but they are fun and make me feel good.  At least I don’t (fill in the blank.)  I’m my own person and don’t want to be told what to do.  What trend are you talking about?  But I’m not wrong.  I don’t need people to approve of me and my actions.  I’m sure you’re imagining things.  I’m not trying to fool anybody, this is just me.  You’re overreacting.  Well, I can’t change so it’ll just work out (and/or I’m just trusting God) .  I’m pretty comfortable where I am.  Whatever comes along……

Twenty Questions

Just how did you expect that to turn out?  Are you going to live with that forever?  So what if it does make you happy, where does it lead?  Is that how you treat people you love?  Do you see what this does to your family?  Where do you think those words came from?  Is what you just said really true or did you just hear it somewhere?  Is that a responsible thing to do?  Why him/her, no really?  Exactly why do you think you are better than them?  So do you ackowledge ANY authority in your life?  Do you see a trend here?  What if you are wrong?  Are you listening to wise people that love you?  Why do you put up that wall?  Who do you think you’re fooling?  Don’t you realize that comes with a price?  Why do you think it will get better on it’s own?  What if you really believed that?  What next?

Inside out

A thousand times I’ve failed, still your mercy remains and should I stumble again, still I’m caught in your grace.   Everlasting, your light will shine when all else fades!  Never ending, your glory goes beyond all fame!  In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control, consume me from the inside out.   Lord, let justice and praise become my embrace…..to love You from the inside out.  Your will above all else, my purpose remains, the art of losing myself in bringing you praise.  And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise from the inside out.   Lord, my soul cries out.  (Hillsong United)

My prayer for the day.  And by the way, you critics of contemporary Christian music just kill me.  How can you hear those words and not be moved?!

25th Anniversary

“Who is this that grows like the dawn, as beautiful as the full moon, as pure as the sun, as awesome as an army with banners?”  Song of Solomon 6:10 (NASB)

I’ve been married to Laura Ann Edwards McGill for 25 years today.  Like the dawn, she grows brighter and brighter in my eyes with the passing of time.  Like the full moon, I admire her beauty and majesty each and every time I see her.   Like the sun, she’s pure and sure and radiates dazzling light and life-giving warmth to everyone around her.  And like an army with banners representing her King,  she’s a force to be respected and reckoned with, not to be taken lightly…….and my response is and has always been awe.  I love you, Laura.

Responsibility and Duty

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.  Live in peace with each other.   I Thess 5:12-13 (NIV)

“Leaders have the God-ordained responsibility to be trustworthy and above reproach; meanwhile people have a God-ordained duty to honor and submit to their leaders.”  (quoted from VINTAGE CHURCH by Mark Driscoll)

Who Comes to Mind?

But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  Luke 6:27-28 (NASB)

Speaker: Jesus

Audience: disciples……and now you cause you read this

Question:  Who comes to  mind…. enemies who hate, curse, and mistreat you?

Unreasonable responses commanded:  love, do good, bless, pray for

Chilling

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.  Matthew 15:18 (NIV)

This is one of the most sobering and convicting and sad verses in the Bible.  Jesus tells us that what comes out of our mouth is what is in our heart.   That should absolutely stop us in our tracks and bring us to our knees.  Not just because of the angry, bitter, jealous, selfish, vengeful, malicious, hate-filled and wicked words we speak or write, but because of the angry, bitter, jealous, selfish, vengeful, malicious, hate-filled and wicked hearts beating in our chests.   Our words reveal our hearts. 

And there’s this other verse as well…..

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  Matthew 12:36 (NIV)

Why? How?

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.  Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 

Philippians 3:10-17 (NIV)

Read it a couple more times and let it sink in.  The author was in prison at the time, by the way…….