GETTING IT RIGHT
We all are familiar with the temptation of Jesus by the devil and we saw how Jesus overcame him. Peradventure you don't remember the story well or you don't know about it, just stop and read it in Luke 4 vs. 1-13 before you continue reading. The devil from the scripture gave three temptations, 1. To turn bread to stone, 2. To bow down and worship him and 3. To prove if he is the son of God by jumping down.
I've heard this temptations being preached many times, and i'm made to see the wily of the devil and the Word-filled Jesus overcoming those temptations with the word. But then, I began to look at the temptation critically and I discovered that these same temptations the devil gave to Jesus, we are doing same to God too. How? I will explain later. We stylishly copy, even though not intentionally the act of the tempt and then use it. Let's consider the first temptation today and then consider the remaining later;
1. The devil said "turn this stone to bread if you are the Son of God. But Jesus responded thou shalt not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God"
Truth be told, we sometimes do and say the same thing. Have you heard people say (or you've even said it before too) 'if you're God, do this...' , 'if you're God make this to happen...', if truly you're God, turn this situation into this...' etc. Many at times, we premise these prayers based on what we like or love and not based on the understanding of the mind of God.
We put God to the test as if we're talking to a fellow human being, 'if you are truly a man or you're truly the son of your father, do this...' and because he wants to prove to you that he is, he goes ahead to do those things even if at his detriment. But God doesn't need to prove to you that He is God. He is God whether you're there or not. God doesn't need your consent or approval to be God, He's been existing long before your great great great grandparents were born, He's not moved by what you think or say. So let's stop this traditional-mentality of God.
And then if the thing we asked God to do doesn't come to pass, does that reduce God or His power? Of course not. He cares much about you that He is not moved about your much crying for something when He knows it will hurt you or destroy your life and His purpose for you. We sometimes want God to do a magic, we want Him to do something quickly to suite our desires and appetites. Many of us forget that when God promised us bread, He didn't say he will turn stone to bread, He said He will give us our daily bread. Not do a magic. And that's why Jesus responded 'Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'
God expects us to know His word and know His mind in every situation we find ourselves and not be looking for a quick fix. Living by the word is Knowing what God wants you to do, per time and doing them.
Let the Word strengthens you, let it nourish you, let it change your countenance and perspective, let it make you active and alive. That's exactly what bread does and that's why scriptures says 'let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...' and 'that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding' (Col.3: 16, Col.1:9).
Stop asking for Stone-bread (quick fix, magic) rather, understand what the will(Word) of the Lord is and live on it. To be continued.
I've heard this temptations being preached many times, and i'm made to see the wily of the devil and the Word-filled Jesus overcoming those temptations with the word. But then, I began to look at the temptation critically and I discovered that these same temptations the devil gave to Jesus, we are doing same to God too. How? I will explain later. We stylishly copy, even though not intentionally the act of the tempt and then use it. Let's consider the first temptation today and then consider the remaining later;
1. The devil said "turn this stone to bread if you are the Son of God. But Jesus responded thou shalt not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God"
Truth be told, we sometimes do and say the same thing. Have you heard people say (or you've even said it before too) 'if you're God, do this...' , 'if you're God make this to happen...', if truly you're God, turn this situation into this...' etc. Many at times, we premise these prayers based on what we like or love and not based on the understanding of the mind of God.
We put God to the test as if we're talking to a fellow human being, 'if you are truly a man or you're truly the son of your father, do this...' and because he wants to prove to you that he is, he goes ahead to do those things even if at his detriment. But God doesn't need to prove to you that He is God. He is God whether you're there or not. God doesn't need your consent or approval to be God, He's been existing long before your great great great grandparents were born, He's not moved by what you think or say. So let's stop this traditional-mentality of God.
And then if the thing we asked God to do doesn't come to pass, does that reduce God or His power? Of course not. He cares much about you that He is not moved about your much crying for something when He knows it will hurt you or destroy your life and His purpose for you. We sometimes want God to do a magic, we want Him to do something quickly to suite our desires and appetites. Many of us forget that when God promised us bread, He didn't say he will turn stone to bread, He said He will give us our daily bread. Not do a magic. And that's why Jesus responded 'Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'
God expects us to know His word and know His mind in every situation we find ourselves and not be looking for a quick fix. Living by the word is Knowing what God wants you to do, per time and doing them.
Let the Word strengthens you, let it nourish you, let it change your countenance and perspective, let it make you active and alive. That's exactly what bread does and that's why scriptures says 'let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...' and 'that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding' (Col.3: 16, Col.1:9).
Stop asking for Stone-bread (quick fix, magic) rather, understand what the will(Word) of the Lord is and live on it. To be continued.
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