tempting::Matthew 4(1)
Date: Jan 12th, 2007 11:25:26 am - Subscribe
current reading:: Generous Orthodoxy::Brian McLaren
i don't typically do this, but i'm cutting this chapter into 2 posts because there's just too much to talk about for one post.
the beginning of chapter 4 Xp is lead into the desert to be tempted. what's great about this passage is that we see that Xp is tempted in the same way, if not harder, then we are. satan tempts Him in 3 different ways: physical needs, miracles to prove God's power, and with the mission He was on. though the others are equally important i'm just going to focus on the last one.
satan offers all the kingdoms of this world to Xp, all He has to do is bow and worship satan. i can't imagine how tempting that was. think about it, at this point Xp knows what the end of His mission is, a painful death on the cross. and here's satan giving Him and out. by bowing to satan, Xp can get His message out and the world will know who He is and why He came (though He'd be subject to satan).
how many of us would take that easy road? i know if it were me, i'd consider it. no death. no humiliation. no pain. no suffering. no blood. no wounds. and still get the message out about God's love. seems pretty tempting.
but Xp responds, as He did to the other temptations, by quoting scripture. "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only".
as much as He may have not wanted to go the road God had laid out for Him, Xp knew that it was the road He had to travel. it was God's plan. and though He would be relieved of the temporal pain, the end result would still be serving satan. makes me thankful that i have a Savior who's so much stronger than me when it comes to temptation.
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just to let you know
Date: Jan 11th, 2007 12:06:54 pm - Subscribe
current reading:: Generous Orthodoxy::Brian McLaren
i started another blog that is focusing more on my interest in culture, life, and faith. i know it's not with aeonity, but check it out.
blogdedrew
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the weirdo::matthew 3
Date: Jan 11th, 2007 12:00:49 pm - Subscribe
current reading:: Generous Orthodoxy::Brian McLaren
john the baptist has always facinated me. here's this guy preaching out in the desert, away from everyone, wearing a camel suit and eating bugs. seems as if he just totally rejects the rest of the world to follow God's calling. that to me is amazing, but more so is his ambition.
john could have easily taken all the glory for himself. could have said, "yes i am the mouth piece of God". but he didn't. he knew his role, in making away for the ultimate Messenger of God.
and then he gets to baptize Xp! what an amazing opportunity just to see that, let alone be involved in the event. hopefully we can all have servant hearts like john and always put ourselves last.
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not knowing::matthew 2
Date: Jan 8th, 2007 10:01:10 am - Subscribe
current reading:: Generous Orthodoxy::Brian McLaren
something struck me today as i was reading this verse. how is it that the teachers of the law, knowing where Xp was to be born would not believe in Him being the Son of God?
now the teachers of the law mentioned here, may have believed, they may not have, it doesn't say. but there's plenty of teachers of the jewish law later in the new testament who don't believe. i would think, and this is just me, if someone were to come fulfilling the prophesies of the old testament, wouldn't that clue you in to the fact that he was the Messiah?
so i did a little research and found a website that lists all the prophesies Xp fulfilled...it's quite staggering. http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/prophchr.html here's a link to check out.
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the conception::Matthew 1
Date: Jan 4th, 2007 9:23:23 am - Subscribe
current reading:: Generous Orthodoxy::Brian McLaren
believing in Xp can be tough for some of us. the whole idea that Xp is both God and man. that He could perform miracles. that He would give up His life for people, then raise from the dead. to most of us who think rationally, it's just hard to comprehend. but before Xp was even in this world His beginning wasn't one that was rational. HE WAS BORN TO A VIRGIN. and as hard as it may be for us to believe or even understand this can you imagine what Joseph went through.
Mary comes to him, and says she's pregnant. this is his fiance, the woman he's to marry and she's pregnant. that's a tough spot to be in. the woman you love is pregnant, the baby isn't yours, and yet she hasn't been unfaithful. God has done this miraclous thing. and Joseph then is visited by an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him he's going to be the father of the Son of God. talk about pressure. talk about having to have a great faith in God.
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