Christ | Incarnation | Jesus | Purity | Short Shorts | Sin | Suffering | Temptations
SUFFERING WITHOUT SIN God had one Son on earth without sin, never one without suffering. From Sword of the Lord, October 2, 1987, page 15
Temptations
Deceit | Deception | Short Shorts | Sin | Temptation | Temptations | Trouble | Understanding
TROUBLE WITH TROUBLE The trouble with trouble is that it usually starts out as a whole lot of fun. — Anonymous
Desires | Lust | Satan | Self | Short Shorts | Sin | Temptation | Temptations
SATAN’S BAIT Satan, like all fishermen, baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish.
Christ | Faith | Flesh | Satan | Self | Sin | Temptation | Temptations | Worldliness
THE WORLD, THE FLESH & THE DEVIL These then, are our three foes: the devil, the world, and the flesh. Our attitude toward them as Christians can be summed up in one word — renounce. There can be no bargaining, compromise, or hesitation. Abiding in Christ, as taught in John 15, is the only possible …
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Adversity | Assurance | Caution | Consequences | Desire | Sin | Temptation | Temptations
WATCH THE ROAD Driving east on Interstate 70 toward Denver the driver is still in the mountains but can see Denver. A highway sign reminds truckers that they are not yet out of the mountains. The sign says, Truckers, do not be fooled; you are not out of the mountains yet. Seeing the flat land …
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Christ | Evil | Power | Satan | Success | Temptation | Temptations | Victory
GOD’S BACK-UP PLAN James 4:7 states, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Why is that? It’s not because we’re so smart or have the power. It’s because he has been defeated by Christ at Calvary. When I was growing up, a bully moved into my neighborhood. He was about four years older …
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Complain | Endurance | Faith | Fellowship with God | Joy | Patience | Prayer | Responsibility | Sanctification | Temptation | Temptations | Thanks | Trial | Trials | Victory
THREE TEMPTATION RESPONSIBILITIES In the face of any and all temptation, the believer has three general responsibilities: First he is to rejoice in the midst of testing . . . This is not the attitude of a cynic or stoic but of a triumphant Christian who meets temptation not with passive resignation but with positive …
Appearance | Care | Forgiveness | Peace | Perspective | Temptation | Temptations | Unity | Violence
WOOD PILE GENEROSITY John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, had a vision of a covenant community that would live in harmony and obedience to God. These are his words: We must follow the counsel of Micah, to do justly, to live mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. For this end …
Devil | Purity | Sanctification | Satan | Temptation | Temptations | Trial | Trials
DEVIL & TEMPTATIONS The Devil is easy to identify. He appears when you’re terribly tired and makes a very reasonable request which you know you shouldn’t grant. — Fiorello La Guardia
Defeat | Failure | Habits | Humor | Logic | Problems | Solutions | Temptation | Temptations | Understanding | Wisdom
RAISE THE FENCE OR LOCK THE GATE Our attempts at avoiding temptation are not always successful as we take half-hearted measures in dealing with our sin. At times we may want to question our avoidance strategies. A kangaroo kept getting out of his enclosure at the zoo. Knowing that he could hop pretty high, the …
Adversity | Courage | Opposition | Problems | Short Shorts | Temptation | Temptations | Trial | Trials | Trouble
FACING TROUBLE Avoid trouble when possible, face it when necessary. Louis L’Amour, Jubal Sackett
Attitude | Desire | Desires | Evil | Heart | Sin | Temptation | Temptations
THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM Nathaniel Hawthorne has a strange tale called “Earth’s Holocaust.” The story is about a time when the inhabitants of the earth overburdened with an accumulation of worn-out trumpery, determined to rid themselves of it by general bonfire. All night long a stranger with cynical smile and haughty air stood watching …
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Compromise | Conviction | Convictions | Sin | Story | Temptation | Temptations | Truth
COMPROMISE WITH A BEAR A Russian parable tells of a hunter who raised his rifle, or so the story goes, and took careful aim at a large black bear. When he was about to pull the trigger, the bear spoke in a soft, soothing voice, “Isn’t it better to talk than to shoot? What do …
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Conscience | Guilt | Short Shorts | Sin | Temptation | Temptations
Your conscience may not keep you from doing wrong, but it sure keeps you from enjoying it.
Opportunities | Opportunity | Short Shorts | Sin | Temptation | Temptations | Victory
TOUGH TEMPTATIONS Resisting temptation is a lot easier if you think you might get another chance later on. From the Chicago Tribune, 6-1-95
Commandments | Flesh | Law | Purity | Sex | Sin | Temptation | Temptations | Worldliness
FLESH AGENDA There was a full page ad in People magazine in early 1997 that announced the line-up of shows on Sunday night on USA Network. They were “Pacific Blue,” “Silk Stalkings,” “The Big Easy.” They were billed as “steamy” shows. The ad had a flesh colored background which when examined closely was the closeup …
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Desire | Desires | Diets | Food | Health | Humor | Prayer | Temptation | Temptations
DIETER’S PRAYER Lord, grant me the strength that I may not fall/into the clutches of cholesterol./At polyunsaturates, I’ll never mutter,/for the road to hell is paved with butter./And cake is cursed and cream is awful,/And Satan is hiding in every waffle./Beelzebub is a chocolate drop,/and Lucifer is a lollipop./Teach me the evils of hollandaise,/of pasta …
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Arguments | Bible Authority | Deceit | Deception | Logic | Perspective | Temptation | Temptations | Truth
VALID OR SOUND ARGUMENTS In the study of logic, there is one significant difference between a valid argument and a sound argument: the truth! Both arguments may have conclusions that consistently follow from the premises of the arguments. But a valid argument does not have to contain premises–or assumptions–that are true. In ancient Greece, there …