Temptation

Temptation
When someone says temptation what comes to your mind?
Some would say "something that is bad but yet appealing", others would even go as far as saying its what we want most in life but don't have it yet. Well I'm defiantly positive its not the second one. One thing I am for sure of is that it is a tool of the devil. It is one of his strongest weapons that he uses against us. Have you heard of the saying " I can resist anything but temptation" well its funny but true.


Now you may be wondering if temptation is so powerful why does Jesus let us go through it. Some may think its because Jesus doesn't know what its like to be tempted , well that is wrong.

In Matthew 4:1-11 tells the story of Jesus trial of temptation. 1)Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2)and when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungred. 3)and when the tempter came to him, he said, "if thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread."4)but he answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" 5)then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6)and saith unto him, if thou be the son of God, cast thyself down: for it is wriiten, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7)Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8)Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9)and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10)Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11)Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

So Jesus was in the desert and tempted three times with hunger, for angels to come to his rescue, and the promise of all the kingdoms. Jesus does know what temptation is and understands it very well. You may wonder now why did Jesus go through this and why did God let him?

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 says "12)Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13)No temptation has over taken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." Jesus faced this temptation to show us that we can beat it. God let him go through it because he knew that it wasn't to much for him to handle.


Psalms 94:17-18 17)Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. 18)When I said, my foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. So if you ever get to a point to where something feels like it is just going to overtake you and its something you can't handle. Just ask God to show you the purpose for this temptation and for him to show you the way out. He will answer but its not going to be a big thundering voice telling you. God will show you the way in very many different ways and it will change for all of us. There may be 2 people going through the same kind of temptation but the way God shows the way out to one of them may be completley different for the other person.


Now I heard this from my cousin Jeff and it helped me have a diffrent look at temptation, so hopefully it will have the same effect for you. If temptation is one of Satan's strongest tools that he uses than maybe we should feel good that he has to use it on us. What he is trying to say is that if your doing your part as a Christian than Satan is going to try to throw his best at you. So if your not being tempted by something maybe you should look at what your not doing as a Christian.


James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tired, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. So just keep that on your minds. That there is a reward for going threw all of this temptation and staying faithful.

Be as Little Children

Be as little Children

What if you were told today that a little child could be the best in your work place. What if they told you that a little child would excel further than any adult that worked there. You would probably tell that person that they were crazy for even thinking that. What if someone told you that a little child could kick your butt at any video game because they were better at it than you. You would think they were crazy as well.

Well even though we know that little children couldn’t do these things there is something they do better than all of us. They are perfect in the eyes of our Lord. Yes it’s true little children are God’s favorite. Sorry to tell you this but don’t worry He still loves you. Jesus’s disciples were reminded of this a couple of times.

One instance occurs in Matthew 18:1-6 1) At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2) and Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3) And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5) and whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6) But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

So you can see that Jesus wasn’t messing around or joking about the little children. He said that if you offend a child that you would be better off to hang a millstone around your neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. That sounds like a pretty bad punishment for just offending a little child that believed in Christ.

Now just hearing that from Jesus you would think that his disciples would learn the first time but they didn’t. If you read a little further you find out they made this mistake of offending children again:
Matthew 19:13,14
13) Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14) But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

So as you go through life trying to build your relationship with Christ remember that maybe you don’t always need to try to be grown up, but sometimes you might need to become as humble as a little child.
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black, and white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.