God’s Loving Perspective trumps Temptation in my Life!
Is our life a microcosm of the Bible from our birth to our death and beyond?
Foretold Jesus, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Isn’t a religion with The Holy Spirit spiritual in nature?
The world view that translated religion to spirituality has what in store past spirituality?
Perhaps a return to religion, an all-encompassing religion, from a different viewpoint, perspective and accumulated life experience?
Now in those days John, the Baptist came, preaching in the desert of Judea, and saying “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John sets up Jesus’ first spoken words in the Bible with “It is I who ought to be baptized by thee, and dost thou come to me?” Jesus answered John with “Let it be so now, for so it becomes us to fulfill all justice.”
When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water and the Spirit of God descended coming upon him as a dove. God said “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil three times.
Fasting forty days and forty nights, here are his responses to temptation:
“It is written, ‘Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”
“It is further written, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’”
“Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘The Lord thy God shalt thou worship and him only shall thou serve.’”
Hmmm… service to God only, not to self or not to the demands of others?
How do we come out of denial, justification, and rationalization to truly know The Will and Power of God in our lives?
Jesus said after John the Baptist death, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
These were the exact same words as John the Baptist.
Where is the continuation of the prior generations of our ancestors in our lives?
How have we been inspired by them and how have we taken their beliefs and beings in life to the next spiritual step? Or have we immediately discarded them and their beliefs and beings as being old-fashion and not of use in our more modern times?
What are your desert experiences and who did you turn to for advice and guidance?
Jesus called his first disciples, a pair of brothers, as he walked by the Sea of Galilee. Simon Peter and Andrew. James and John. Has Jesus called to you?
Jesus shared The Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and, speaking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in heaven; for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you.”
I think at one point in my life or another I have been on the receiving and giving end of all these beatitudes. I wonder if these “beatitudes” are really the “Be Attitudes” as in “Have this Be your Attitude” in life. TROML Baby!
Be “lightly salted!” Keep your strength, keep your flavor and light up the world!
Be better! Fulfill the old law, do not destroy it, but develop it and be part of its transformation to the new law.
Be free of anger and any resentment that fuels that anger.
A
l-Anon brought peace and understanding to me as a young adult and later as an older adult through the TROML (an acronym for The Rest of My Life) Process. From being exposed to Alcoholics Anonymous, I realized I was a sugar addict and compulsive binge overeater. I did the Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous and that brought me freedom and more peace and understanding. By worldly chance and God’s Hand directing my life, I was lead to Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA), an organization separate from Al-Anon with their own Big Red Book. Doing the Twelve Steps of ACA brought me greater emotional relief, understanding and maturity. Through the re-parenting and “re-God-ing” processes, which are intertwined from our early years because out parents likely introduced us to religion, I grew emotionally and spiritually. My perspective of God and my perspective of myself and others became more “accepting, compassionate, and loving.” Now, God’s Hand has led me to Celebrate Recovery (CR), a Bible-based, Scripture-based Twelve Step program to help me overcome my hurts, habits, and hang-ups. I see this alphabetical adventure through Al-Anon, AA, OA, ACA, and CR as God bringing me full circle back to Him, this time as a mature adult unconstrained by the impact and effects of alcoholism in my childhood. I am arriving at what I call my “Splendid Spiritual Self,” ready to complete God’s Will with my life and ready to be transformed further to life beyond in eternity.
What triggered that life synopsis? Reading the Bible, specifically the “Chasity of Mind and Body” section of Matthew Chapter 5.
The CR scripture associated with Step 3 (We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.) is from Romans 12:1.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
My mind, emotions, and body, my Splendid Spiritual Self, developed through the TROML Process, I give back to God to do His Will through me. Amen. Al-le-lu-ia!
I am a sinner who believes in God, that Jesus died for my sins and was resurrected, to show me and guide me to eternal life with Him in Heaven.
I divorced my wife and believe that God has forgiven me for that sin along with the many others that I have committed throughout my life.
I am not God, just trying to be filled with The Holy Spirit and be like His Son, my Personal Savior Jesus Christ.
I try not to have enemies but those that do come into my life I try to keep a continuing dialogue and relationship so that one day, hopefully soon, God’s love and enlightenment will come and transform us into a deep and meaningful friendship. For this I pray.
Peace, joy, and freedom—The Ultimate Love!
Day 4: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; God’s Loving Perspective trumps Temptation in my Life!
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Matthew Chapters 3, 4 and 5.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, was a Galilean by birth.
Tax Collector at Capharnaum
Christ called him to become a disciple, and later an Apostle
After the Holy Ghost came down on the Apostles on Pentecost, Matthew preached the Gospel in Judea.
He wrote his Gospel to prove to his readers that Christ was the Messiah foretold by God in the Old Testament
Matthew Chapter 3: The preaching of John the Baptist; John speaks to the Pharisees and Sadducees; The baptism of Jesus.
The preaching of John the Baptist
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Prophet Isaias- “the voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”
They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water and the Spirit of God descended coming upon him as a dove. God said “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew Chapter 4: The first temptation; The second temptation; The third temptation; Jesus in Capharnaum; The first disciples called; Mission of preaching and miracles.
Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil.
Fasting forty days and forty nights
Foretold Jesus, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Stones to bread
No man lives from every word that comes forth from the mouth of God
Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.
The Lord thy God shalt thou worship and him only shall thou serve. (SERVICE)
John had been delivered up
Jesus said after John the Baptist death, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Exact same words as John the Baptist.
Two sets of brothers, fishermen
Simon, who is called Peter and Andrew
James and John
“Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Teaching, preaching, healing
Into all of Syria
Possessed and lunatics- mentally ill
Jesus can cure mental illness.
Matthew Chapter 5: Sermon on the mount; The beatitudes; The disciples compared to salt and light; The old law and the new; Against anger; Chastity of mind and body; Divorce; Concerning oaths; The new law of talion; The love of enemies.
The beatitudes
For your sake, persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and the light of the world
I have not come to destroy but to fulfill
You have heard that it was said to the ancients
Come to terms with thy opponent, DEAL With IT
Kill to anger
Looks with lust
Pluck out an eye and cut off a hand?
Divorce
Not “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But turn the other cheek.
Dad apology as a kid, slap other’s hand???
Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.
Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect!
