Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
40th Friday:Prone to Wander, Lord I
Feel It.
Suthin John
Long Island MTC, NY
12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one
has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has
promised to those who love him. 13 No one, when tempted, should say, “I am
being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts
no one. [James 1:12-13]
We are all created to find our satisfaction in God and pursue our joy in Him. Even when we are adopted into His family, having full communion with the Trinity, there is still a part of us that is “prone to wander, Lord we feel it!” Each of us develops addictions to the things that are stealing life from us. We are tempted when we are led by our own desires. “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown bring forth death. (James 1:15)”
Temptation often presents us with a small part of the story. The serpent said to Adam and Eve, “eat this fruit and you will receive knowledge like God.” Though they obtained that knowledge, what the serpent left out was the shame that would come with it all. The tempter tends to leave the shame part out of the story and focuses on the experience and the desires of our human hearts. Therefore, before we jump into any act we must look at the full story and examine if that action, decision or choice will lead to a place where want to be.
Human desires will lead to self-dependence or “living by bread alone”, but to receive the fullness of God, our complete dependence needs to be on “every Word that comes from the mouth of God” through prayer, meditation and a relationship with God.
Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan for human redemption and reverse the result of the first temptation. He carried out the burden of all our sins, He took on all of our shame and He placed it ALL on the cross as a Sinless Savior. And through His death and resurrection He overcame the powers of the tempter, so that we may continue to overcome through Him and intimately know our Father by His sacrificial love for us.
We are all created to find our satisfaction in God and pursue our joy in Him. Even when we are adopted into His family, having full communion with the Trinity, there is still a part of us that is “prone to wander, Lord we feel it!” Each of us develops addictions to the things that are stealing life from us. We are tempted when we are led by our own desires. “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown bring forth death. (James 1:15)”
Temptation often presents us with a small part of the story. The serpent said to Adam and Eve, “eat this fruit and you will receive knowledge like God.” Though they obtained that knowledge, what the serpent left out was the shame that would come with it all. The tempter tends to leave the shame part out of the story and focuses on the experience and the desires of our human hearts. Therefore, before we jump into any act we must look at the full story and examine if that action, decision or choice will lead to a place where want to be.
Human desires will lead to self-dependence or “living by bread alone”, but to receive the fullness of God, our complete dependence needs to be on “every Word that comes from the mouth of God” through prayer, meditation and a relationship with God.
Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan for human redemption and reverse the result of the first temptation. He carried out the burden of all our sins, He took on all of our shame and He placed it ALL on the cross as a Sinless Savior. And through His death and resurrection He overcame the powers of the tempter, so that we may continue to overcome through Him and intimately know our Father by His sacrificial love for us.
PRAYER
Dear God, We praise you
because of your faithfulness and unconditional love for us. We thank you Lord
for your forgiveness and grace. Help us to stand firm against the schemes of
the devil by clothing us in your full armor. Lead us by the Holy Spirit as we
continue our journey through this world of temptations. Help us to hold on to
the truth, that only you can satisfy us. We thank you for never leaving us
alone and for calling us your own. We submit ourselves to your holy and
precious name. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.
When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.