Pattern of Temptation

Those that know me know that I just love Tim Keller’s writing. Well, Keller has a new book out called; “King’s Cross – The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus” and although I am only 20 pages into it; I believe it is his best yet.

Early in the book, Keller points to Mark1:12-13;

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Keller shows us a biblical pattern; a pattern he also describes as a battle going on even today. A pattern of temptation that started in Genesis; a pattern where the Spirit moves, God speaks and Satan tempts. A pattern that continued with Christ as the Spirit sent Him into the desert to be tempted by Satan.

Keller says; “Now here in Mark: The Spirit, the water, God speaks, a new humanity, history is altered, and immediately the pattern continues with Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness…Not surprisingly, many surviving Christians were tempted to doubt their beliefs, tempted to hedge their commitment to God. But here they see Jesus, like Adam, experiencing a spectacular relationship with God and then having to contend with a threat of His own. You see, the wilderness isn’t just a random detour into trouble – it’s a battleground.”

Yet, there is hope! Again, Keller says; “But God didn’t leave us defenseless. God said to Jesus, “Obey me about the tree” – only this time the tree was a cross – “and you will die” And Jesus did. He has gone before you into the heart of a very real battle…What he has enjoyed from all eternity, he has come to offer you. And sometimes, when you’re in the deepest part of the battle, when you’re tempted and hurt and weak, you’ll hear in the depths of your being the same words Jesus heard: “This is my beloved child – you are my beloved child, whom I love; with you I’m well pleased.”

So encouraging, so humbling. Paul helps in Ephesians 6; 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Everyone, as believers we have the shield of faith to protect, we have a helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. Amen.

Grace and Peace!

Watchmen

I recently came across Isaiah 62:6-7; 6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, 7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

This day these verses gave me pause. Somehow I found this passage so hopeful; full of instruction; yet so inviting. This word watchmen means to watch over, to protect, to preserve and I take great comfort knowing as believers we have watchmen; watchmen that takes no rest day or night. We have an instruction to call on the Lord continuously and we have an invitation to call on the Lord with any and all things; a Lord who continually works on our behalf no matter this issue.

Oswald Chambers tells us that a great intercession is seen in this passage; he calls it entering into the “Ministry of the Interior” where we become linked with our Lord and the Holy Spirit in intercessory prayer at the throne of God! Chambers states; “One of the first lessons we learn in the Ministry of the Interior is to talk things out before God in soliloquy – tell God what you know he already knows in order that you may get to know it as He does.”

Somehow I get great comfort knowing that I have a God who is so powerful and loving and cares that I know Him and provides such amazing watchmen to help, to counsel, to comfort, to intercede and to watch over me all my days.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tell us; 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

May we rejoice always, pray continually giving thanks for all things.

Grace and Peace!

Known

I am part of a couple of groups and one is wrapping up a study of the book of Job and in it we have come to see Job’s longing to better know God. The other group is focusing on the attributes of God – which is our attempt at getting to know God better. All this just seemed to converge on me at once; but it just lit up for me and I was in total amazement; I was humbled and grateful.

Psalm 139:1 (ESV) says; “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!” and as I thought about that I came to realize that I am known by God and still He loves me. I am totally known in all my brokenness and still He loves me. I am fully known as the sinner that I am and still He loves me. I am in Awe.

Paul prays for each of us in Ephesians 3 (NIV); “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Oh, how truly amazing!

A.W. Pink says of God’s all knowing and all loving ways; “The apprehension of God’s infinite knowledge should fill the Christian with adoration. The whole of my life stood open to His view from the beginning. He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart upon me. Oh, how the realization of this should bow me in wonder and worship before Him!”

Lord, how I adore you; may we all bow in wonder and worship!

Grace and Peace!