01/27/2023
This morning I am contemplating my devotional reading pertaining to placing our earthly needs before our spiritual life. Oswald Chambers writes of this in these words...
"We are never free from the recurring tides of encroachment. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or in the line of difficult circumstances." - Oswald Chambers
We are constantly being drawn away from the spiritual and back into the earthly. Our ability to stay focused on our faith in God is under relentless attack by the needs and desires of our bodies and minds as we make our way through this terrestrial life. Jesus guides us, He leads us towards the moment when we will be united with God, but our human frailty lends us to temptation.
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
Matthew 6:25 KJV
When we think we are doing well at maintaining our close relationship with the Lord and our hand is in Jesus' in our walk, Satan raises the intensity of the world's call. If he was bold enough to tempt Jesus, then he will most certainly tempt us as well.
“Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.”
Luke 4:2 KJV
Be prepared when he comes against you. It can be subtle, or bold in its nature, but be assured that it will come. Our faith and trust in God is our only defense against such assault. Chambers wrote of this when he quoted scripture and warned us...
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. How much evil has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying - Now what are you going to do next month - this summer? "Be anxious of nothing," Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your Heavenly Father. - Oswald Chambers
We are strengthened by studying the Word of God, praying, binding together for encouragement, and looking always for the presence of God and His will in our lives. By doing these things we are strengthening ourselves as Job was strengthened, and can resist temptation as he did.
“And [Job] said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job 1:21 KJV
Job lost everything except his focus on God and his faith. He maintained his trust in the Father despite all that was thrown at him, and Scripture says this about him...
“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
Job 1:22 KJV
And at the end of his suffering, God brought him out of temptation and rewarded him greatly...
"So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters.”
Job 42:12-13 KJV
Will God reward us for our efforts? Will we be able to resist the temptations that come our way? Can we be of strong for those around us?
Yesterday my pastor called me from a conference he was attending in a distant city. The young son of a man and his wife that I love dearly had been diagnosed with cancer, and my pastor asked if I would call him and provide support. I had received that same diagnosis and travelled that road not once, but twice, as I walked it myself, and then with my own son. I said yes.
When we are not succumbing to temptation, Satan raises the stakes. When concentration on our relationship with the Lord remains firm in the face of lesser temptation then larger distractions are thrown into our path. My friend and his family were facing a greater challenge, and I wanted to bind together with them and strengthen them. When the voices of many say "curse God and die" the lone voice of encouragement from a sibling in Christ can make all the difference.
Where is your focus today? Is it on the Lord and your walk with him, or the money and clothing of the world? Are you prepared to handle the cancers of life and hold firm to your faith?
Prayer:
Father I want to walk with Jesus through the temptations of this world; I want to receive His encouragement and the help of my brothers and sisters in Christ as I face Satan's distractions. Heavenly Father, give me strength through your word and intercede in my life; catch me as I stumble and always know that I worship you. Keep those who travel this way with me, and extend your hand to them as they too are tempted to look away from your face. Let us be like a staff to one another and a rod against evil. Lord God, you are the focus of our lives; bless us as we serve and worship you.
Rich Forbes