Sticky Cinnamon Rolls. Hot Apple Pie with Ice Cream. Fresh Strawberries with whipped cream on a Vanilla Pound cake. Hot Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Do I have your attention?
There are some things in life that get our attention more than we want to admit. Notice that I stayed in the "safe zone" of temptation. There are other areas that tempt me much more. But we will not go there!
Did you ever really read the temptation of Jesus? Now some of you discount it automatically because you think Jesus had the divinity card which exempted him from all of it. Not true. Jesus knew what it was like to have your mouth watered with temptation.
But he was ready. The tempter came after Jesus had experienced the height of hearing God's voice at his baptism and at the lowest point of his human thirst. It was there that the tempter offered him bread of this world, power, and the game of "let's see what God will do...."
Temptation is so personal. Some of you read the opening paragraph and said, "So?" Others of you headed for the kitchen or the restaurant immediately. Sounded like I needed company, so you said, "I'll join ya!"
I am wondering if you and I can face another temptation during this season of Lent. Can we be tempted to do good? Can we be tempted to be God's children? John Wesley used the idea of God "wooing" us towards the kingdom to talk about even being perfected in Christian love. He believed that love could tempted us to grow in the faith because of its power.
The objects of temptation are rarely bad in themselves. Usually it is where they lead us that is the problem. The beauty of another human being can lead us away from covenants. The lure of power and prestige can lead us into pride and arrogance. The taste of being full can lead us into destroying the health of our bodies.
Tempt yourself to be in love with God. Tempt yourself into sacrificing yourself for others.
Make Lent a holy season.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
http://www.thewellumc.com/
http://www.midweekmanna.com/
Do I have your attention?
There are some things in life that get our attention more than we want to admit. Notice that I stayed in the "safe zone" of temptation. There are other areas that tempt me much more. But we will not go there!
Did you ever really read the temptation of Jesus? Now some of you discount it automatically because you think Jesus had the divinity card which exempted him from all of it. Not true. Jesus knew what it was like to have your mouth watered with temptation.
But he was ready. The tempter came after Jesus had experienced the height of hearing God's voice at his baptism and at the lowest point of his human thirst. It was there that the tempter offered him bread of this world, power, and the game of "let's see what God will do...."
Temptation is so personal. Some of you read the opening paragraph and said, "So?" Others of you headed for the kitchen or the restaurant immediately. Sounded like I needed company, so you said, "I'll join ya!"
I am wondering if you and I can face another temptation during this season of Lent. Can we be tempted to do good? Can we be tempted to be God's children? John Wesley used the idea of God "wooing" us towards the kingdom to talk about even being perfected in Christian love. He believed that love could tempted us to grow in the faith because of its power.
The objects of temptation are rarely bad in themselves. Usually it is where they lead us that is the problem. The beauty of another human being can lead us away from covenants. The lure of power and prestige can lead us into pride and arrogance. The taste of being full can lead us into destroying the health of our bodies.
Tempt yourself to be in love with God. Tempt yourself into sacrificing yourself for others.
Make Lent a holy season.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
http://www.thewellumc.com/
http://www.midweekmanna.com/
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