If you have ever been on a diet, you know the stomach-tugging, mouth-watering feeling of seeing a nice piece of pie or a donut or perhaps a rich-looking piece of cheesecake, and just oooing and ahhhing over it. Your head says "No", but your tastebuds say "We want; we need; give it to us; we want satisfction.". And the more we dwell on it, the stronger the desires grow.
Satan knows what we want. He knows our weak areas of desires. Same goes for our flesh and its weaknesses. The lust of the eye can be quite powerful. We are tempted on so many different fronts, and like the pie, the donut, or the cheesecake, the more we dwell on sin, the stronger the desires grow. But just looking at pie, donuts or cheesecake will not add one ounce to your weight.
Likewise, temptation is not sin. James tells us that if we will humble ourselves before God and resist the devil, he will flee from us. Humbling ourselves is not easy. Resisting is hard work. But it can be done with the power of the Spirit and in the powerful name of Jesus. We can lay aside the weight of sin by dwelling on a spiritual diet of "consuming the Word".
Doug Thompson's InsightsMonday, March 31, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Death: Your Enemy or Your Long-awaited Friend
by doug Thompson...
Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints. Death is one of those things that we can never truly get a handle on until it's our turn to die. And then after the fact it is too late to tell anyone about it. Many people fear Death, because it is an unknown area, and we don't exactly know what is beyond Death. It becomes the enemy to avoid at all costs.
But the believer in Christ should not see Death as an enemy, rather as a long-awaited friend that transports us from one uncertain, unpredictable life into a positive, eternal and perfect life with our Creator. Granted, those of us who are young and are looking forward to many more years on earth are not inviting Death to intervene just yet. However, there are those who have lived a very full life and are ready to face friend Death with open arms and a sense of great relief.
But Death is no respector of age. It can occur at any moment, and in just about any circumstance or situation of life. The real question concerning death is this: Are you prepared for its results? Those who know Christ as Savior are prepared; not necessarily for the when, but for what comes afterward. For those who don't know Christ, Death is the dreaded enemy, and brings ultimate separation from God. How do you see Death...as a friend or as an enemy?
Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints. Death is one of those things that we can never truly get a handle on until it's our turn to die. And then after the fact it is too late to tell anyone about it. Many people fear Death, because it is an unknown area, and we don't exactly know what is beyond Death. It becomes the enemy to avoid at all costs.
But the believer in Christ should not see Death as an enemy, rather as a long-awaited friend that transports us from one uncertain, unpredictable life into a positive, eternal and perfect life with our Creator. Granted, those of us who are young and are looking forward to many more years on earth are not inviting Death to intervene just yet. However, there are those who have lived a very full life and are ready to face friend Death with open arms and a sense of great relief.
But Death is no respector of age. It can occur at any moment, and in just about any circumstance or situation of life. The real question concerning death is this: Are you prepared for its results? Those who know Christ as Savior are prepared; not necessarily for the when, but for what comes afterward. For those who don't know Christ, Death is the dreaded enemy, and brings ultimate separation from God. How do you see Death...as a friend or as an enemy?
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Difficult to Understand
by Doug Thompson. The Bible is not exactly the easiest book to understand...there are things that not only puzzle us, but things that the writers themselves did not comprehend. For example, we have the coming of Messiah. Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a day on which the Jews celebrated the triumphal entry of Christ Jesus, the Messiah, into Jerusalem as King. They had anxiously awaited his coming for centuries, according to Old Testament prophets.
However, this coming Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection of this same Messiah who rose from the dead, having been rejected as King and crucified only a few short days after presenting himself to the Jews to be their King. Jesus even predicted all of this would happen. But interestingly, while knowing of his impending death, he was simultaneously preparing his disciples to head up the church, which he also formed during his earthly ministry. The prophets correctly predicted this, as well, but could not did not and understand its implications. What a dilemma for them, as well as for the disciples who did not understand it either until after the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.
Perhaps you have encountered some mysteries or difficult passages in the Bible. If you lack wisdom, ask God, and He will give it to you liberally, according to James. However, know that many things will remain "hidden" until God teaches us ALL things in eternity. Then your understanding will be complete.
However, this coming Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection of this same Messiah who rose from the dead, having been rejected as King and crucified only a few short days after presenting himself to the Jews to be their King. Jesus even predicted all of this would happen. But interestingly, while knowing of his impending death, he was simultaneously preparing his disciples to head up the church, which he also formed during his earthly ministry. The prophets correctly predicted this, as well, but could not did not and understand its implications. What a dilemma for them, as well as for the disciples who did not understand it either until after the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.
Perhaps you have encountered some mysteries or difficult passages in the Bible. If you lack wisdom, ask God, and He will give it to you liberally, according to James. However, know that many things will remain "hidden" until God teaches us ALL things in eternity. Then your understanding will be complete.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Decisions, Decisions!
by Doug Thompson. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 Solomon here reveals that your life consists of decisions; thousands of decisions every day, and these decisions determine how you live. You choose to be happy or sad. It is your choice to be grumpy or upbeat. You determine to be active or lazy. You decide to sin or remain pure. Solomon says that if you base your decisions on God's principles by acknowledging His truths, that He (God) will direct your paths, or make your paths smooth and straight. If you choose righteousness, the apostle Pauls tells us that all things will work together for good, to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose. A happy, productive, purposeful life is available to all who choose it. Choose God's way and you choose fruitfulness. Choose your own understanding and selfish desires, and you wind up with far less than best; even misery. Like Joshua declared, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". Choose you this day whom you will serve.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Don't Lose Hope!
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Just what is hope, anyway? Here are a few definitions:
1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: I hope he feels better soon.
2. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.
3. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. I hope the Colts will win the 2009 Superbowl.
4. to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early Spring.
Hope is about the future, something we look towards, someone who can help, or desiring that things will all turn out ok. Hope coupled with faith, its sister, is very powerful. Then, when we join these two with God's love and His sovereignty, we discover the foundation upon which every Christian should base his or her life's decisions.
Losing hope is to say God doesn't love you. It says that He is not sovereign and is not in control. Losing hope says faith is irrelevant, which means God's Word is not trustworthy. Losing hope is a tragic emptiness.
So, don't lose hope! It will make you seem weak, and it will make God look bad in the eyes of others if you do.
God says, "Now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)." Hope therefore is your dependence on God's love, relying on the promises in His Word, and believing that He will bring to pass only those things that are worth looking forward to. I hope you understand this truth!
Just what is hope, anyway? Here are a few definitions:
1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: I hope he feels better soon.
2. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.
3. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. I hope the Colts will win the 2009 Superbowl.
4. to feel that something desired may happen: We hope for an early Spring.
Hope is about the future, something we look towards, someone who can help, or desiring that things will all turn out ok. Hope coupled with faith, its sister, is very powerful. Then, when we join these two with God's love and His sovereignty, we discover the foundation upon which every Christian should base his or her life's decisions.
Losing hope is to say God doesn't love you. It says that He is not sovereign and is not in control. Losing hope says faith is irrelevant, which means God's Word is not trustworthy. Losing hope is a tragic emptiness.
So, don't lose hope! It will make you seem weak, and it will make God look bad in the eyes of others if you do.
God says, "Now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)." Hope therefore is your dependence on God's love, relying on the promises in His Word, and believing that He will bring to pass only those things that are worth looking forward to. I hope you understand this truth!
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