Don’t Tempt Me!

James 1:12-15

Of all the ingredients that go into satan’s recipes of sinful ploys, only two are required, that allow for temptation to be effective; enticement, and the lust of men. There’s not one thing the devil can do to tempt God’s children, except they first reveal their hidden desire for what he offers. God tests His people, to prove what’s in their hearts, and to help make them better for His purposes, but satan tempts Christians, in order to pull them away from their allegiance with the Father, and keep them bound in sin.

There are times when men assume that God is tempting them, but our Father would never do anything to cause intentional harm to those He loves. On the other hand, the enemy would do everything within his power, to see that the followers of Christ are all destroyed.

Temptation is very powerful, and can sever even the most solid godly relationships. Don’t believe me, just ask Adam and Eve how powerful temptation can be. The first humans placed in the earth, who inhabited God’s very presence, gave in to satan’s wicked scheme. After conversing with that unusual couple, call and chat with Lot’s wife, and ask, what was so valuable in Sodom, that caused her to look back, and lose her very life. The key to understanding temptation is, recognizing that satan knows what we desire, even those secret things, because oftentimes, we speak our thoughts into the atmosphere. So, when he tempts us, it’s usually with something we’ve always yearned for, but probably don’t need.

Anything that will lead you to sin, is not a blessing from God, but a trick of the enemy. I often wonder, how Judas was so close to Jesus, yet couldn’t overcome his lust for money. The hidden greed in his heart, was coupled with satan’s allurement, which led him to his eventual demise.

Be wise in these last and evil days, because our adversary, the devil, is trying harder than ever, to keep us out of God’s will. All who endure the temptations of the enemy, along with his wicked schemes, will one day receive the crown of life, God promised to those who love Him. Always remember, sin brings eternal death, but obedience brings eternal life.

Walk in love,

Ell

Facing temptation, stay loyal to Christ

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

If the apostle Paul, and men of God from the days of old, were living and preaching in today’s time, they would undoubtedly be the least popular of all preachers. Based on how watered down the Gospel message has become, hearing a Word from the Lord that is unadulterated, and sharper than any double-edged sword, would definitely stir up trouble in most modern-day churches. Rather than expound on prosperity, material wealth, and self exaltation, the ole’ school preachers would promote repentance, salvation, and the “day of Christ”. Seldom are churches warned of the coming of Christ, because most of the time spent in gatherings involve offerings, announcements, and misguided praise and worship. Church leaders have to stand firm on God’s Word, and refuse to give in to societal pressures, because the souls of the people they lead are dependent upon their wise counsel and leadership for their continued spiritual growth and development.

In light of the inevitable return of Christ, Paul, and those who accompanied him, assembled with the Thessalonian believers, to give warning and encouragement, because the times would soon become perilous. Despite how strong or founded the people were in godliness, they were to remain guarded against all evil. The first warning given was that the people guard their minds. The enemy is well aware that if he can penetrate into a man’s mind, the heart and soul will be his to control. Paul then admonished the church to protect their hearts, and keep their emotions in check, because there are many evil spirits that work to stir up men’s emotions, and cause them to waver in their faith. But, the church was advised to stand firm on what they believed, and allow their faith and trust in God’s power, to be the driving force that keeps them steadfast, and unmovable.

As we guard our hearts and minds against the wiles of satan, we must also be aware that some of our own brothers and sisters in the Lord will unfortunately fall away. (Sigh)…sad, but true. The devil has been very effective at deceiving men, and his tactics work well, even to this very day! Wickedness is prevalent in every country on the planet, and good people give up, and give in to the tricks of the enemy, but despite satan and his lying wonders, the people of God must stand together, and hold up the blood-stained banner of Christ Jesus, until He returns to take us with Him.

Walk in love,

Ell

Reconciliation through Jesus Christ

Romans 5:6-11

What is it about you, that makes God love you so much? Why is it, that whenever you make a mistake, or turn against God, He gives you countless opportunities to repent, and come back to Him, rather than erase your existence from the face of the earth, like He did nations in the past? The obvious reason God continues to care for His people is, His love is endless, and not expressed based on condition. Love embodies the very nature of God, and this love was exhibited vividly in the form of His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Anointed One.

If God was like men, frail and emotional, there would probably be a handful of people left on the earth today, because He would have zapped everyone who rebelled against Him to smithereens. But, God knows the end, from the beginning, and sent Christ to be the means by which our sins were forgiven, so that the bond man once had with Him, could be reestablished.

Not only is the church justified to God by faith, but we are also justified by the blood of Jesus, and reconciled to God by His death. As the world turns, many continue to ignore the fact that the wrath of God will rain down upon the earth, but those who have been redeemed by Christ, and have accepted God’s free gift of salvation, will be saved from wrath, through Christ. It’ll be a sad day for all who are the enemies of God; those who refused to accept Christ as their Savior, when God’s wrath comes, but Christ died so eternal shame and punishment could be avoided by all who believe on Him.

If Jesus sacrificed His life, while men were yet sinners and enemies to God, imagine how much He’ll do after we’ve been reconciled to the Father. Knowing that we have security in our eternal destination with God, should provoke all disciples to joy in Him, through Jesus, by whom we have received the atonement.

Walk in love,

Ell

Living among wrongdoers

Psalm 57

Many teach that the proper response to negative treatment is retaliation. When being attacked, whether you’re a Christian or not, rendering a counter attack is the worst possible thing anyone could do. For one thing, prolonging a negative situation is never a healthy option, so stirring up such a fire could cause flames that could affect innocent bystanders as well. Violence never solves anything, it only creates opportunities for people to get hurt spiritually, physically and mentally.

When a person submits their life to God, they automatically become a target for satan to attack, so it’s common for men to harbor ill wills against them. There will even be times when others will have resentment towards a Christian, when they’ve done nothing to cause it. The world hated Jesus, so expect it to also hate the fact that we operate under God’s agenda, and not the devil’s. For the believer, king David left a perfect example of how to conduct oneself in the presence of those who intentionally seek to disrupt their spiritual and mental focus. God sees and knows all that we face in life, but it’s required that we acknowledge Him in all our ways, so David made it his business to approach God with his issue, as well as praise. God knows we need Him, but He also knows when we try to pimp Him. There were many times I prayed to God to get me out of jams, but only to go back into those same situations after He had delivered me. David knew in his heart that He needed God to stand with him against his enemies, so that he would be free to offer more worship, praise, and good deeds that would bring glory to His name. When you seek God’s help, always check your motives for doing so. David also made certain to promote God’s power in his prayer, more than the ploy of those against him. God doesn’t need to be convinced of His power, but we must first convince ourselves that He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

God stands at the ready to assist His people in all situations, but we must activate that power with our faith. You can sit in a car all day and pray that it starts, but until you turn the key, or push the start button, you’ll sit there until your buttcheeks get numb. In his prayer of distress, David’s faith was shown in his great admiration for God, and His everlasting mercy. When you pray, do you cry and moan about your issue the entire time, or do you reverence God, then get off your knees feeling motivated to knock the devil out like Rocky did against that tall Russian dude? Talking to God should always motivate us to stand strong against our adversary, because it’s in Him that we live, move, and have our being, so acknowledging our association with the greatest source of power known to all creation, gives us the hope we need that all will soon be well.

Never be afraid of what men try to do to you, because they can only go as far as God allows them to. God allows certain situations to occur in order to see what level our faith is, and whether we need to mature more, or use our faith to motivate someone else. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45a).

Walk in love,

Ell

Living together in harmony

Romans 12:16-21

According to Google’s definition, an enemy is considered a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. Merriam-Webster defines an enemy as, one that is antagonistic to another, or one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent. In every novel or film, the enemy is usually the bad guy who plots to overthrow or eliminate the good guy, so that he can reign and rule with all authority. Did you know, that before you were saved and delivered from your sins, you were an enemy to God? Yup, all believers were, but God still showed us love, mercy, and grace, while allowing Christ to suffer, so that we could be saved. Being fully aware of the fact that God extended His love to us while we were yet sinners, I question those who claim to be sons and daughters of God, yet find it difficult to love their enemies. It’s seems as if some have forgotten that they were once sentenced to eternal damnation, and now feel that they are worthy to pass judgment on others, but they are mistaken. Our job is to love others at all cost, while God handles the judge duties.

Another reason members of the body of Christ have trouble loving others is, they aren’t all on the same page. God preserved His Word, and made certain that it was written for all to understand, but many have allowed false doctrines and teachings to cloud their judgment of God’s words, thus causing them to venture into territories believers are to keep away from including pride, selfishness, and ambitions to be rich. Many who claim to be righteous even shun away the poor, in favor of entertaining those who are rich. This is not the behavior a righteous man exhibits, but one who lacks focus and faith in the Word of God. It’s vital that believers be of the same mind, and remain humble before even attempting to do any work for God, because living in harmony is what makes ministry effective. When Paul set off on his missionary journeys, those who accompanied him were firm believers in the same God and standards he lived by. The harmony between these men of God was essential in keeping them firm and focused, even under the pressure of false accusers, and persecution.

The goal of satan is to overcome the children of God with evil, but our good is powerful enough to subdue the wicked plans of our enemy, because we operate under God’s authority. As a member of the body of Christ, seek first to maintain peace and harmony among the brethren and sisteren (I made that up 😊), so that when we witness and minister to others, our good won’t be evil spoken of, and we can leave a positive impression in the hearts and minds of those we aim to reach.

Walk in love,

Ell