Sunday, January 22, 2017

Trust vs Manipulation

5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’c ”
7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’d ” (Matthew 4:5-7)

Thoughts: This is the temptation to manipulate or control God.  Jesus was taken to the highest point around- where everyone could see Him.  He could prove God's existence if He jumped and an angel saved Him.  It was abuse of God's promises, and an effort to make God do magic to wow people.  But God is not concerned with show- but with the heart.  God wants us to do what is right and then trust Him.
     Jesus was always willing to say, "Lord, not my will but thine be done."  He said this in the Garden of Gethsemane right before the cross.  The way of love is to trust in the other instead of manipulate the other.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust and submit to your way.  

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