Hyperlinks are underlined, I’m not sure how obvious they are. I like to use hyperlinks to direct my readers to further info if they need it. For example on this post the exchange between Eve and the serpent is in the garden I have added a link, can you find it? 😬
When Eve was tempted in the garden, she was alone, and she got played. The serpent reasons with her, she believes the snake, and takes a bite. Then she goes over and does the devil’s work, and Adam listens to her, and the rest is History.
Fast forward to where, Satan tempted Jesus with reasoning. He was also alone. Look at each and every answer Jesus gave, what would you say characterized each of them?
I marvel at his answers each and every time I read or hear them. He quoted the scripture. His actions were determined by obedience to God’s word. That means he knew God’s word! His expectations were then, as always, to please his father through his obedience.
When the Bible tells us to be like Christ, it’s this that we are to follow. His obedience. Luke 11:27-28 comes to mind once again. Jesus’ rebuttal of the unnamed woman’s declaration included himself as well as his mother.
Hear and obey.
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
Hebrews 5:11
The righteous shall live by faith, from faith to faith. One act of hearing, followed by obedience leads to another. Faith is listening obedience. Apart from faith it is impossible to please God.
My experience is that this interaction is where a humble walk with God is possible. No gimmicks, no agendas, just His Holy Spirit guiding me all day long, moment by moment, listening obedience.
Quarrelsome wife. We the church are his Bride. We are the wife. Submit to the husband, the husband is Christ. Amoung other things quarrels are arguments. My wife and I argue, to be sure. But the more we seek to listen and agree with one another, the more we hear from God in a timely manner.
The best example of this is when my son, Ashton was 18 months old. He was uncharacteristically inconsolable, crying and in obvious pain. About two hours earlier he’d had a fairly minor fall in our back yard. Thank God we did not argue about what to do. My wife said to me, “I’m so glad you know what to do.”
Maybe she was referring to the fact that while this was her first child, Ashton was in fact my 5th child. Or maybe it was in reference to the fact that I once taught First Aid? Regardless, as soon as she said it, as soon as I heard her say it, my insides crumpled! “I have no idea! Oh, God help me!”
I immediately thought of a book we’d recently received from the local health authority. It was a First Aid guide. I turned to head injuries, and read the signs and symptoms…
We took him to the local emergency ward, where he was placed first in line ahead of those who had already been waiting in the crowded waiting room.
Long story short, he came within seconds of death.
Sobering, isn’t it?
In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer takes the case of the Rich young ruler, and the lawyer, and points out how they wanted to quibble with Jesus. Bonhoeffer boldly points out that of any of us are confused, it’s because we are simply in a state of disobedience.
Pray, right now and ask God what it is you’ve been refusing to hear?
Micah 6:8 there’s a great story from my life about this verse! I knew what God wanted from me, every alter call he’d bring it to me, and I’d refuse, then one day while looking at some Christian albums at a local Christian book store, I saw that reference, Micah 6:8… I said, “ok God! This is my answer!!!” I went home and looked it up! “He has shown you, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you…” 😂
So what about Feck?!?
My brother Andrew and I used to laugh at people who said crap instead of… swearing. It’s as though a guy about to be thrown into Hell could shout out:
“I said F E C K !”
Running Down Vimy 