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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 27 July 2023:
Jeremiah 19:4, 5 – … because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind….
God will punish a people who sacrifice their children, even unborn children, out of selfishness, an unthinkable thing to Him. However, through Christ there is forgiveness for those who have shed innocent blood but repent and return to Him.
- Psalm 139:13-16 -- For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
- Isaiah 44:24 — Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb….
- Galatians 1:15, 16 — But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me….
- Luke 1:41 — And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit….
- Proverbs 6:16-19 — There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
- Exodus 21:22-25 — “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
- Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….
- Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
- 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jeremiah 19:11 – So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it can never be mended.
There can come a time when God knows a person or nation will never turn to Him, when their opportunity for repentance is gone because of the hardening of their hearts. He then destroys the worthless vessel.
Luke 4:1 – And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.
Jesus, our example, was led by the Spirit, not merely by perceptions, intellect, or emotions. Only the Spirit knows the complete picture.
Matthew, verse one, adds some words to what Luke records: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Jesus began His earthly ministry by confronting and defeating the temptations of Satan. Though Jesus was tempted “by” sin, He, being sinless and loving the Father with all His mind, soul, and strength, wasn’t tempted “to” sin. In other words, Jesus didn’t accept Satan’s offers of self will instead of God’s will. He didn’t allow external temptations to change His mind concerning the perfect love and will of His Father, and His responses revealed His resolute allegiance.
Note the similarities and differences between Satan’s attack on Jesus compared with Satan’s attack on Adam and Eve. Adam, whose Father was God, was intended to be God’s image bearer on earth and multiply image bearers who would translate God’s invisible attributes and will into tangible, creative manifestations of love and goodness. God’s intent for Adam was God’s intent for all of mankind. To be a human, apart from animals, was to be the image of God on earth, empowered by the indwelling of His Spirit and directed by the Spirit of God. Mankind was to have “dominion” under God’s “dominion.” Adam’s will was to be God’s will, but Adam was tempted by Satan to question God’s perfect will, and when Satan suggested Adam should decide for himself what was good and bad, right and wrong, Adam agreed with Satan and sinned by choosing his “wisdom” and will over God’s. From that point on, Adam was no longer the embodiment of God’s word (or will). Though he still reflected a part of God’s image, the image was distorted; he was no longer God’s perfect image bearer and no longer manifested God’s perfect will into the world, thereby corrupting everything around him and raising children who were images of Adam and his will rather than images of God. Ever since then, mankind has been trying to fix what was broken but without any perception of what right really looks like and without any power to will what God wills.
Jesus came to restore what Adam had broken, to live the life Adam failed to live, the life God intends for us to live as His image bearers, empowered and controlled by His Spirit. Jesus began by winning the victory over Satan’s temptations which Adam should have won. However, while Adam, living in absolute paradise with a full stomach succumbed when tempted by a mere apple, Jesus, having fasted for forty days in the harshest of environments remained faithful when Satan offered Him everything. Any important thing Jesus demonstrates is that it’s not our external conditions which cause us to sin but rather our internal conditions, the condition of our relationship with God, and the “good life” isn’t built from the outside-in but rather from the inside-out. Changed hearts change the world, not the other way around. Popular philosophies suggest that if we create a good environment for people, they will be good and if people are bad, it is because of their conditions. However, as the old pastor said, “The heart of man’s problems is the problem with man’s heart.” When Adam sinned, he blamed Eve and God rather than acknowledging his own responsibility, or said another way “response ability,” his ability to choose obedience or disobedience for himself. Who do you blame for your sins? Your parents? Your spouse? Your friends? Your financial troubles? Your bad experiences? Adam demonstrated that even in perfect conditions, we can be tempted to sin, while Jesus demonstrated that even the worst conditions we can trust and obey God and the devil will flee, and we will be comforted.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 — No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Luke 4:2 – …he was hungry.
You are vulnerable to temptation when you are physically weak. When you are struggling physically, mentally, or emotionally, draw closer to the Lord in prayer, meditation, the study of God’s word, and the fellowship of other believers. Don’t just try to will your way through it.
Luke 4:3 – If you are the Son of God….
Satan wants you to doubt your status with God.
Temptation occurred person-to-person. Evil is not just a concept or action; evil is an entity, Satan.
- Ephesians 6:10–12 — Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 — For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Luke 4:5-7 – … it will all be yours.
Temptations targets personal desires you might have for personal accomplishments rather that accomplishments for the Kingdom. Satan looks for any selfishness or self-centeredness in you, wants you to make something a priority in your life other than God, and wants you to pursue your own goals.
Luke 4:9-12 – If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here…. And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Satan wants you to question God’s protection and control in your life or presume upon Him support for your selfish desires. God does not support your goals but empowers you to serve His purposes. Many people are tempted to view God as their genie in a bottle.
Luke 4:18 — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed….”
The Spirit leads you to help the lost and the needy.
Luke 4:26-27 – Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.
Sidon and Syria were foreign nations. God worked there, to the dismay of those in Israel. What can we learn from these verses?
Luke 4:34 — “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
The demons know who Jesus is, but they refuse to follow Him. James said, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19) Many self-proclaimed Christians don’t even have demon-like respect for Jesus, unable to shudder. Believing in Jesus is not enough; you have to believe in Him and trust Him enough to obey Him and follow him.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 27 July 2023: Today, commit to being not just a believer in Jesus but a disciple of Jesus, a follower who obeys at all costs.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 