Temptation/Good Luck
CROSS PURPOSES 106
28th November 2007
Temptation/Good Luck
Hi Guys, Fred here.
The blokes at Men’s Brekky recently got into a discussion about Jesus and Temptation. One line of thought said “yeh, but you know he was never going to sin.” My response was “well, if he was like me and was confronted by a beautiful babe who was ‘willing’, I’d have to admit the temptation was real.” At that point, another of the group quoted a ‘rock song’ with this line:
“I CAN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEMPTATION AND GOOD LUCK”
It’s true that Jesus did not sin. It was the only way he could be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. But without doubt he felt the tug of sin, including through the Mary Magdelenes’ of this world.
He did not sin however because he allowed nothing to come between himself and his Father in Heaven. He chose – willed himself – to remain utterly focused on Abba Father’s will. And that is why he did not suffer confusion as the writer of the line above did.
The beauty of it is that his clarity – read his purity and holiness – is what is given to us in the Spirit when he takes our sin to the tomb, and we trust him and his message for life.
“Our Father, who in heaven…your will be done…lead us not into temptation.”
GOOD STUFF ISN’T IT?
Enjoy your week.
Fred
Something else…remember the Colin Powell’s favourite quote from last week’s Cross Purposes?
It’s from Thucydides: “Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.” Powell elaborated: “The more powerful you are, the more people want to trust you with that power. They would hate to not trust you with that power.”
Somebody responded with this quote:
"Anyone who wants to be a politician shouldn't be allowed to be one."
And The Bulletin in discussing ‘the Powerful’ in it’s November 27 2007 issue included the following:
“The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it.” Lord Macaulay
In regard to the last quote from Lord Macaulay, it could be amended to describe Jesus and his attitude to power:
“The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without using it.”
That my friends, is biblical meekness.
Fred
28th November 2007
Temptation/Good Luck
Hi Guys, Fred here.
The blokes at Men’s Brekky recently got into a discussion about Jesus and Temptation. One line of thought said “yeh, but you know he was never going to sin.” My response was “well, if he was like me and was confronted by a beautiful babe who was ‘willing’, I’d have to admit the temptation was real.” At that point, another of the group quoted a ‘rock song’ with this line:
“I CAN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEMPTATION AND GOOD LUCK”
It’s true that Jesus did not sin. It was the only way he could be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. But without doubt he felt the tug of sin, including through the Mary Magdelenes’ of this world.
He did not sin however because he allowed nothing to come between himself and his Father in Heaven. He chose – willed himself – to remain utterly focused on Abba Father’s will. And that is why he did not suffer confusion as the writer of the line above did.
The beauty of it is that his clarity – read his purity and holiness – is what is given to us in the Spirit when he takes our sin to the tomb, and we trust him and his message for life.
“Our Father, who in heaven…your will be done…lead us not into temptation.”
GOOD STUFF ISN’T IT?
Enjoy your week.
Fred
Something else…remember the Colin Powell’s favourite quote from last week’s Cross Purposes?
It’s from Thucydides: “Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.” Powell elaborated: “The more powerful you are, the more people want to trust you with that power. They would hate to not trust you with that power.”
Somebody responded with this quote:
"Anyone who wants to be a politician shouldn't be allowed to be one."
And The Bulletin in discussing ‘the Powerful’ in it’s November 27 2007 issue included the following:
“The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it.” Lord Macaulay
In regard to the last quote from Lord Macaulay, it could be amended to describe Jesus and his attitude to power:
“The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without using it.”
That my friends, is biblical meekness.
Fred
posted by PastorFredVeerhuis at 2:15 PM
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