After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Summary: We turn now to the ultimate temptation and the ultimate test. God himself is tested.
Continue reading “Matthew 4:2 – The Mouth of God”Genesis 3:13 – Who’s in the Driver’s Seat?
The serpent deceived me, and I ate.
Summary: The greatest deception was a simple one, and it continues to deceive millions as we wonder what is all the excitement about.
Continue reading “Genesis 3:13 – Who’s in the Driver’s Seat?”Job 1:1 – My Own Eyes
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job…
Summary: The Book of Job is very instructive when it comes to being tested by God. We can learn a lot from listening in on Job’s conversation with his three friends.
Continue reading “Job 1:1 – My Own Eyes”Genesis 22:12 – God’s Question
Now I know that you fear God …
Summary: How does God know whether we fear him or not? In Genesis, we find an example of God testing Abraham to see how serious his faith is.
Continue reading “Genesis 22:12 – God’s Question”Genesis 22:3 – Instant Answer
So Abraham rose early in the morning…
Summary: The Bible is full of examples of people being “tested” or, as the KJV says, “tempted.” In this meditation, we look at Abraham’s response to one such situation.
Continue reading “Genesis 22:3 – Instant Answer”Matthew 6:13 – Apples & Pineapples
And lead us not into temptation …
Summary: The word “temptation” is another word with multiple meanings. If we forget that, we may find ourselves misunderstanding what God has said.
Continue reading “Matthew 6:13 – Apples & Pineapples”Matthew 6:13 – The Powerful Pause
And lead us …
Summary: How we speak the words we speak has a great impact on the meaning others hear in our words. It also impacts what we hear in our own words. Pausing after the words “lead us” leads us to consider their meaning more closely.
Continue reading “Matthew 6:13 – The Powerful Pause”Colossians 3:13 – Truly Forgiven
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Summary: Forgiveness is a tricky business. If we are going to forgive others, we have to have been forgiven to have some to give. Fortunately, we have a God with an infinite supply of forgiveness.
Continue reading “Colossians 3:13 – Truly Forgiven”Matthew 5:39 – Slap Happy
If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
Summary: Allowing someone to slap us and then inviting them to slap us again is counter-intuitive. Why would anybody do that?
Continue reading “Matthew 5:39 – Slap Happy”Matthew 5:44 – God-Like Love
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…
Summary: Loving others as God loves us is a complicated business.
Continue reading “Matthew 5:44 – God-Like Love”