I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Memory of the Month:Proverbs 15:1-A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Today's reading: JEREMIAH 18-19 2 TIMOTHY 3
The Gravity
Gravity- extreme or alarming importance; seriousness.
We read of the temptation of Christ and we mostly think and hear of the answers that Jesus, Himself, gave satan. As we go through this we should never lose sight of what Christ Jesus did answer but, for this time, let's look at some concepts. Our scripture reference today is from Matthew, chapter 4, verses one through eleven.
The enemy knew Christ was hungry, he had fasted for 40 days. He said, 'If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become bread'."
This has to do with the body. I believe God wants us to know that Christ was tempted first physically.
The enemy took Christ to the top of the temple and tempted Him with using God's power to basically show off. Jesus did not fall for that either. This was the temptation God wants us to see in our spiritual lives-in our souls.
Christ was then taken to a very high mountain and offered all the kingdoms of the world and their 'splendor'. I see in this the tempation of the mind.
The enemy tempted Jesus in body, spirit, and mind-that was His entire existence-body, mind, spirit. Christ Jesus always answered, "It is written..."
Jesus' answer to His great time of temptation was the inspired, God-breathed, written word. The answer of our Christ Jesus to everything was and is the living Word of God.
This is why I and countless others urge, preach, pound on the absolute eternal need to be in The Word of God. Read it, memorize it, speak it-it must live in our hearts. The scripture records God's word on the matter. Moses wrote:
Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Verse 5 is what Jesus said was the first and greatest commandment in Matthew 22:36-40. So what words follow the greatest commandment? The words that follow are to impress upon us all the 'gravity' God wants us to know and feel about His commands-His word. Why? So we can answer the enemy with God's word and not our own words-so we can answer all temptations of this life-temptations of body, spirit, and mind.
A child does not know the gravity of the parental words, "Don't touch that, it is hot!", until they touch it.
God commands about the world to us: "Don't touch it-you'll get burned-without following My words written on your hearts-you'll get burned".
What we try to teach is many times, all too sadly, not taken seriously until some are staring at their last breath.
A few scenarios: A few friends were on a high bridge to 'bungee' jump. It was a thousand feet to the bottom. One by one they jumped. While watching the excitement, one of the friends was so caught up with the thrill that he jumped without the cord...
Another group was skydiving. After they all cleared the plane, one reached for his rip cord to discover he had jumped with only a backpack-no parachute.
Folks get caught up in the excitement of life and spend life just leaping. Some go through all the preparation and certifications and take the leap without being properly equipped.
God is the only one who certifies, prepares, and equips for living this life and the life after-the only one. Are you catching the gravity of living in God's word yet? Yes, it is this serious and ultimately more-ultimately.
Yes, we do believe that if a person confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Christ from the dead that that person is saved. But we also believe that many are led astray and lose contact with God's power in their lives and live without the real peace and joy that comes from living in the Word of God.
Please, please, do not miss the blessing of being truly alive in Christ. Please do not continue having no real peace or experiencing only temporary happiness in this life. Christ Jesus did not die so you could be empty and lonely. He died so that you could-might-have His abundant life.
Could have-might have-if only you take up your cross daily and follow Him. It does not happen with one trip to church a week or if you carry a membership card from the 'TV Christian-Club' in your pocket or purse.
It happens when you fall in love with God and His living Word in Christ Jesus.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
I am not where You want me to be. Help me commit-help me live in Your word. Forgive me-have mercy on me. Fill me with Your Spirit.
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