Several principles from the Lord's temptations in Matthew 4:1-11 can strengthen our discipleship.
First, God's priority in life. Sooner or later, every believer will find himself facing an I versus GOD choice. It can be something we want, but God doesn't. Or something we don't want, but God does for us. The choice we make determines whether he, or we, rules. We'll then be either like citizens of Decapolis, who:
May it never be said that a Christian refused to surrender a sin Jesus demanded we abandon; or refused to carry a load he wanted us to bear. Second, belief and behavior exist in tension. Living apart from God's will as a habit-pattern can't claim to be in God's will when only a habit-pattern of obedience, despite periodic deviations from it, proves the worth of pledged faith. James 2:24 still flays any faith-only position in Christianity. The only place in scripture where "faith only" appears is, "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone". Christianity's beliefs power all benevolent, idealistic and practical actions. Third, the eternality of truth. Culture continues through phases that warmly embraces or coldly rejects that fact. Christians can be so intimidated by what society believes at any period, and so quietly defend God's truth, that we can't even convince ourselves of its permanence. Christians must believe and defend as FACT that no decision ratified in Heaven can ever be annulled by any decision made on earth. The present cultural alienation from God offers Christians opportunities equal to difficulties. First century Roman society differed little from 21st century American. The Christ didn't order his people into every pest-hole then to allow us now to take refuge in our worship and small-group meetings. Let both services continue, but not as refuges to keep us spiritually safe, but as preparation centers to witness with confident, bold testimonies for Jesus to the lost—and to the saved, but unsure disciple. Fini
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