Weekly Uplook - May 14th
Happy Saturday, Dear Seattle Saints!
Sis. Lori and I continue to improve health wise but in an abundance of caution will once again quarantine from services tomorrow and Wednesday Bible Study will continue in online only format for this week. I’m so sorry for the disruption this has caused along the way but appreciate your prayers and patience as we navigate staying safe and continuing to worship together. Special thanks to our ministers and musicians who have been especially flexible during this time. God bless you all.
I’ve been thinking about temptation/testing/trials during this time of sickness. The Greek word for temptation (used in the following verses) not only refers to something enticing us to immorality or evil but also speaks of a time of testing, discipline, examination, and proving; a trial.
(πειράζω pĕirazō, to test (obj.), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:—assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.)
With that said…one of my favorite verses is in Matthew 4:11 which says “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” We all would like to move directly to the place where the devil leaves and angels show up on the scene. Amen. However this time for Jesus also had a context…his own temptation/testing/trial. He had spent 40 days fasting in preparation and yet the temptations and trials thrown at him by Satan were tough indeed. He showed us how to resist by using God’s word against the enemy and not allowing that very word to be twisted out of context. We also can use God’s word in times of trial and temptation.
I am reminded of Paul’s words to the church in Corinth when he said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 We are never alone in trial/temptation. Others have gone through the same kind of things and through God’s faithfulness have made it through. They’ve received strength to bear it. We are often preoccupied with looking for a way of escape when sometimes God’s way of escape is grace to bear it. And I love the promise declared by the leader of the New Testament church, James, when he said, “ Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 We are certainly blessed by God …not by trial/temptation but because there is a reward, a crown of life promised to those who love him and patiently and faithfully endure the trials/temptations which come their way.
This leaves me with one final scripture to consider. While not all trials/temptations are times of discipline from the Lord…some are just the result of a world fallen into sin, I do believe we can learn from them in either case. The writer of Hebrews described it this way: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:11) Sis. Lori and I are being “exercised thereby” the last couple of weeks just as many of you have been. It hasn’t been a joyous time for sure but it is our prayer for us and for you that it will yield “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” in all of us in the days ahead. We know God is faithful and will bring us all through with a crown of righteousness. Praying for you all.
In Christ,
Bro. Bill
Sis. Lori and I continue to improve health wise but in an abundance of caution will once again quarantine from services tomorrow and Wednesday Bible Study will continue in online only format for this week. I’m so sorry for the disruption this has caused along the way but appreciate your prayers and patience as we navigate staying safe and continuing to worship together. Special thanks to our ministers and musicians who have been especially flexible during this time. God bless you all.
I’ve been thinking about temptation/testing/trials during this time of sickness. The Greek word for temptation (used in the following verses) not only refers to something enticing us to immorality or evil but also speaks of a time of testing, discipline, examination, and proving; a trial.
(πειράζω pĕirazō, to test (obj.), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:—assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.)
With that said…one of my favorite verses is in Matthew 4:11 which says “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” We all would like to move directly to the place where the devil leaves and angels show up on the scene. Amen. However this time for Jesus also had a context…his own temptation/testing/trial. He had spent 40 days fasting in preparation and yet the temptations and trials thrown at him by Satan were tough indeed. He showed us how to resist by using God’s word against the enemy and not allowing that very word to be twisted out of context. We also can use God’s word in times of trial and temptation.
I am reminded of Paul’s words to the church in Corinth when he said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 We are never alone in trial/temptation. Others have gone through the same kind of things and through God’s faithfulness have made it through. They’ve received strength to bear it. We are often preoccupied with looking for a way of escape when sometimes God’s way of escape is grace to bear it. And I love the promise declared by the leader of the New Testament church, James, when he said, “ Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 We are certainly blessed by God …not by trial/temptation but because there is a reward, a crown of life promised to those who love him and patiently and faithfully endure the trials/temptations which come their way.
This leaves me with one final scripture to consider. While not all trials/temptations are times of discipline from the Lord…some are just the result of a world fallen into sin, I do believe we can learn from them in either case. The writer of Hebrews described it this way: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:11) Sis. Lori and I are being “exercised thereby” the last couple of weeks just as many of you have been. It hasn’t been a joyous time for sure but it is our prayer for us and for you that it will yield “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” in all of us in the days ahead. We know God is faithful and will bring us all through with a crown of righteousness. Praying for you all.
In Christ,
Bro. Bill
Posted in Weekly Uplook
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