Fight to Keep Our Faith

“We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

I love this reminder that our Christian life is not easy. When you accept Christ, you enter a battle, a war. If you are not feeling like you are in a fight, then it may be a good time to examine your life. Think about this verse,
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If you look like and act like the world around you, then the devil is not messing with you. There is no battle to fight. This is not good!

For example, the world does not wake up and pray without ceasing. The world does not read the Bible. The world does not get involved a community of believers. The world has no problem with living together before marriage. That just becomes a personal preference, not a veering away from a biblical truth. The world has no problem with being jealous or greedy or selfish.

When I read that verse this morning, I was reminded that I am in a battle. Instead of resenting the battle and feeling like I am losing the battle so often, I think I will draw strength from the commander of the army.

“So Christ can save those who come to God through him. Christ can do this forever, because he always lives and is ready to help people when they come before God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7:25‬ ‭ERV‬‬

What a great promise to take hold of! Jesus lives to intercede and help us.

Do Not Put God to the Test

"He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump off, because the Scriptures say, ‘God will command his angels to help you, and their hands will catch you, so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’” Psalm 91:11-12 Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’””
Matthew 4:6-7 ERV

The second temptation of Jesus is a familiar one that we all face. Satan spoke the truth about God's promise to rescue. God has the power, the desire and the reason to save Jesus from harm. When  God rescues us from a trial he receives glory. Win-win situation. So why is this the temptation that Satan chose? 

When we are facing a trail, we all are tempted to "put God to the test." We put him on trial. We place our self imposed demands on God. We say, "God, because you CAN save me, you MUST save me." We are misquoting truth about a promise that we think we read somewhere in the Bible. 

Notice the way Satan made this a test for Jesus. "Jump off and let God save you." Jesus was totally submitted to his Father. He defined the word submission! He said things like,

"You will know that whatever I do is not by my own authority. You will know that I say only what the Father has taught me.”
John 8:28 ERV

Wow! Even the Son of God did not tell his Father how to save him. On the night before his greatest trial, he says,

“He fell to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me drink from this cup. But do what you want, not what I want.””
Matthew 26:39

But Satan cleverly suggested that Jesus tell God what to do. Gracious, how many times do we fall guilty of that? We suggest ways to rescue us and the timetable that he should take to save us. We put God to the test. Worse yet, when he fails to do OUR will, we get mad and bitter and decide that he wasn't all that powerful. 

Next time when things don't go as you planned and life throws you a curveball, use the Word of God and speak the same truth that Jesus spoke. Declare that you will not put "God to the test." He is not the one being tested. You are.