You Can Be Assured of Temptation
May 4, 2010
If you endeavor to seek the life of Christ you can be assured of daily and regular temptation. Temptation to turn away from the gospel as you received it, and how does Paul say we received this good news? In his letter to the Corinthians he is clear, “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you were saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
Hold fast to the belief in the very literal death for your sin and very literal resurrection of the Lord. These are of first importance, the other speculations pale in comparison to this gospel truth. Be comforted by the gospel, meditate on these words, and let it transform your day to day into the life abundant. Remember that temptation will come, and it will come in some times as a twisting of the words of God.
Isn’t it true that God says you can test his will? Isn’t it true that you can live as you want in your private life? Isn’t it true that you can be one person at work and another one to your family? Won’t God rescue you as you become increasingly disobedient? This is foolishness, let us follow the example of our Savior who said simply that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from above. Hold fast, pray, spend time with the Lord who dearly loves you as his own son and daughter.
The pleasure of God in the faithful worker
May 3, 2010
God is well pleased with a person who seeks the Father’s heart who does not turn aside from the way established for him/her. It is an act of God this sort of establishing. For when God rescues us from sin and sets our feet firmly on the Rock, it is very much akin to the prodigal’s return. The Father rejoices. He says here is my son whom I love very much, I have waited for you and now you have returned.
From that starting point we can be assured that God is equally pleased with the one who does his will and sets his heart upon the matters of the kingdom. In whatever vineyard you find yourself in, labor for the Lord, knowing that the Lord is well pleased with the person who seeks his heart within his kingdom. You do not have to wait for a missions trip or a special calling to be in God’s vineyard. Look around, seek the opportunities the Lord has placed before you to be salt & light to a world in desperately in need of knowing Him.
