I have been doing some very in depth
scripture study lately. I am reading Mosiah chapter 3. It has
already taken me three days and I’m not a third of the way through the chapter.
I was very intrigued by a verse in the scriptures and also a couple in the bible.
Does it disturb anyone that Jesus Christ had to endure temptations?? He was tempted. He was tempted by mortal appetites. I wonder if the devil ever tempted him with carnal pleasures.
Now, before you lynch me in justifying that I can be tempted and lust and sin and get away with it let me read you two verses from the good book:
Jesus Christ was tempted in all points yet was without sin…..because he DID NOT YIELD TO TEMPTATIONS! He was tempted so that he could relate to me. He knows what being lustful is like. He knows the intense shame I feel when I relapse and binge. He knows what betrayal trauma is. He knows what child-birth feels like.
But Jesus, the Son of God, did in fact suffer. We know this. Even the very crushing pains in Gethsemane were more than maybe even He imagined.
Mark and Luke capture this moment:
Mark 14:35-36
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Luke 22:42-44
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Even in that moment where Jesus was crushed with pain, even then, he looked to his Father. This god-man Jesus Christ wished there was some other way! He asked the Father to let the pain just pass! He asked that he might not drink the bitter cup!!!
NEVERTHELESS….he finished the work.
NEVERTHELESS….He did not cave in.
NEVERTHELESS….He did the Father’s will and not his own.
NEVERTHELESS….I will stay sober today and not indulge a bit of lust
NEVERTHELESS….I will endure being single and often times lonely.
NEVERTHELESS….I will turn off the TV even if I am so dang bored.
NEVERTHELESS….I will not oogle the girl no matter how ‘out of this world’ her body is to me.
NEVERTHELESS….I will do God’s will and not whatever I want.
Have I made my point???
I was very intrigued by a verse in the scriptures and also a couple in the bible.
Mosiah 3:7
7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of
body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer,
except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so
great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of
his people.Does it disturb anyone that Jesus Christ had to endure temptations?? He was tempted. He was tempted by mortal appetites. I wonder if the devil ever tempted him with carnal pleasures.
Now, before you lynch me in justifying that I can be tempted and lust and sin and get away with it let me read you two verses from the good book:
Hebrews 2:18
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he
is able to succor them that are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin.Jesus Christ was tempted in all points yet was without sin…..because he DID NOT YIELD TO TEMPTATIONS! He was tempted so that he could relate to me. He knows what being lustful is like. He knows the intense shame I feel when I relapse and binge. He knows what betrayal trauma is. He knows what child-birth feels like.
But Jesus, the Son of God, did in fact suffer. We know this. Even the very crushing pains in Gethsemane were more than maybe even He imagined.
Mark and Luke capture this moment:
Mark 14:35-36
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Luke 22:42-44
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Even in that moment where Jesus was crushed with pain, even then, he looked to his Father. This god-man Jesus Christ wished there was some other way! He asked the Father to let the pain just pass! He asked that he might not drink the bitter cup!!!
NEVERTHELESS….he finished the work.
NEVERTHELESS….He did not cave in.
NEVERTHELESS….He did the Father’s will and not his own.
NEVERTHELESS….I will stay sober today and not indulge a bit of lust
NEVERTHELESS….I will endure being single and often times lonely.
NEVERTHELESS….I will turn off the TV even if I am so dang bored.
NEVERTHELESS….I will not oogle the girl no matter how ‘out of this world’ her body is to me.
NEVERTHELESS….I will do God’s will and not whatever I want.
Have I made my point???
this is powerful. I love this. side note- I dno't know about anyone else, but the scripture verses were mostly white words on a white back ground, so I had to select the verses to read them all-- nothing big at all. Just thought you'd like to know.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this is powerful. And I love it. And I'm going to remember it, and use "NEVERTHELESS!!!" in my own struggles from now on. :) Thank you.
blast...I will have to fix those white backgrounds. But thanks for the comments. It was a good morning study!
Deletefixed it!!
DeleteHey Warrior. I never knownifneople see when I reply to comments on MY page so I thought I would come to YOUR page instead to say Thanks for your comments on my blog. Just wanted to tell you that my husband is Mr. Laces:) not sure if you guys have connected yet, but you should;) I HAVE done the 12 steps(twice actually!!). And he is starting step 5 today at 2PM and his sponsor thinks it will take 7-8 hours, doing some tomorrow morning as well!! We could use your prayers. My experience of step 5 is that its total agony, until its over. Even then, I feel like there is a "letting go" period where you feel like you should be doing something proactive to work on each item, but eventually the peace comes.. that was my experience anyways. Thanks for reading my blog:)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! A devotional speaker brought it to my attention years ago, but it always helps to remind myself that Jesus was tempted. He has to be tempted in ALL things in order to know how to help us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good reminder as I work on surrendering my will to His. Christ knows what we go through with temptation. He also knows what blessings come from surrendering our will to the Father's because He always did. Thank you for this! NEVERTHELESS brother!
ReplyDelete