a view from above...

(sorry for the poor quality... do you see the buck?)


I've been interacting with people recently who are struggling with all sorts of issues in life. Each of them are people who have invited Christ into their hearts, yet each of their struggles are as much like the world around them as any issue an unbeliever might embrace.

Temptation is alluring, not ugly.

I mean, giving in to temptation is sin, and the whole process is ugly, but temptation itself is attractive or it wouldn't be tempting.

Similarly, many of us have the enemy pegged as one who wears a red suit with horns, and carries a repulsive pitch fork. This picture is not represtented anywhere in Scripture. In fact quite the opposite (Ezek 28:12-19).

Yet, when I was little, I remember a distinct caricature in our "Childrens Bible Story Book" from Matthew 4 that portrayed him this way.

If only it was easy as recognizing him and his schemes like picture book portrayals.

The enemy is crafty and calculating. Our Savior is wise and has already defeated him.

The truth is, the closer we are to Christ, the more readily we recognize the enemies plan as it's unfurled. Or, maybe we are just less available to temptation because our focus is acute.

Either way, this is what we must aspire to... Christ-likeness!

When believers fail publicly, the name of Jesus is drug through the mud... again.

I am amazed at how frequently those I have the opportunity to counsel, believe they are following the Lord, but are rife with worldly fragrances.

Assumptions are made that the things we have in our hands are things that we should be holding onto. We believe this because they make us happy... or so we think.

Some time ago, one young lady was telling me how addicted she was too intimate relations. She was following Jesus, but refused to give up this up. She was unmarried, had all sorts of struggles in her life, and could not comprehend why.

When presented with truth from Scripture about her choices, the justification game began. She could not conceive of life apart from these kinds of relations.

Now, much later, she has allowed the Lord's convicition to help her make adjustments. However, bitterness from broken relationships threatens her surrender. The very attitude she displays doesn't reflect Jesus. Once aware, she seeks to lay this down as well.

We want what we want, and we want God to provide it. When He doesn't, some of us blame Him, and somehow believe that because we laid down one sin, we have purchased the dreams in our heads... dreams that were born of brokeness because of the sin, not the Savior.

We are owed nothing.

We are promised eternal life, not the perpetual pleasures of the world.

We must allow our dreams to be His. The "desires of our hearts" that He grants, are the things that are in accordance with His will. Not things we think up and expect Him to provide.

When our hearts are fully His, and we walk very closely with Him, what we desire will be what He wants for us.

When we walk like the world, what we want, reflects it.


dad