James 1 (like selections from Matthew 7) tells us that believers should ask God for wisdom, believers should hear and do the word of God, and that not all who claim faith have it. James, in particular, tells us that we can deceive ourselves concerning God's character and promises (especially under trial when we might accuse God of tempting us), by hearing and not doing the word, and with worthless religion rather than religion that is pure and undefiled before God (i.e. visiting orphans and widows). May these warnings encourage your growth in the grace of God.

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Labels: faith, James, Matthew, temptation, trial, warning

Matthew 27:32-54 shows us the third temptation again but now on the lips of the seed of Satan: "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." It was a temptation of "save yourself." We too are often tempted to try to save ourselves rather than to depend on the salvation Christ accomplished. The Judas method was to try to fix it himself by offering his own blood for atonement. The Pilate method was to wash his hands of it and pass the blame onto others. Neither way works. Your blood, sweat and tears cannot save you. You cannot save yourself or ignore your sins and thereby make everything ok. Depend on God for grace and salvation.

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Labels: atonement, christ, cross, death, Judas, Pilate, salvation, temptation

Deuteronomy 6:10-15 and Matthew 4:8-11 tell us, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve." This is a temptation with international and even cosmic consequences. And it is resumed in Matt 16:21-26. The temptation is to skip the cross for a crown. The question is whether we are seeking crowns like power and money or are we taking up our cross -- are we worshiping and serving God alone.

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Labels: cross, deuteronomy, Matthew, money, power, serve, temptation, worship

Deuteronomy 6:16-19 and Matthew 4:5-7 tell us that we should not put God to the test. One way that we commonly do test God is to ask Him to prove His love and concern for us through miraculous signs like healing. Another way is to seek our will rather than His will in our prayers even if we sound religious by quoting Scripture promises. And a third way we test God is by grumbling. Jesus passed the test for us and so whenever we encounter temptation we should not test God.


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Labels: healing, signs, temptation, testing