Spiritual Transformation, NOT Behavior Manipulation预览

Three Areas of Temptations

I am always in a process where God is changing my perspective of life, and the world is always trying to keep me sidetracked from God’s best. 

Using Jeremiah 9:23-24 for guidance, consider verse 23 for the three areas that the world says will fulfill me independently of God, without relying on Him. 

The wise man must not boast in his wisdom;
the strong man must not boast in his strength;
the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth.  (HCSB) 

Or to put it another way these categories are: 

1. What I am (my soul) or wisdom 
2. What I do (my body) or strength 
3. What I have (my possessions) or wealth    

This is the strategy that Satan used in the Garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve in the same three areas. Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. Genesis 3:6 (HCSB) 

1. What I am (my soul) or wisdom – obtaining wisdom 
2. What I do (my body) or strength – good for food 
3. What I have (my possessions) or wealth – delightful to look at

Satan was basically telling Adam and Eve, in cleverly crafted language, "If you eat the fruit, it will give you a satisfaction that God is not providing.” Satan’s lie has always been that you can live in this world satisfactorily without God.

Watch commercials and take notice of how the world promotes beauty, wisdom and physical strength. They try to make us believe that we are missing something, that we won’t be happy or fulfilled without buying their product. “Use this toothpaste or own this car…and you will be happy,” they insinuate. In the realm of wisdom the world promotes that having more knowledge and obtaining more degrees will make me happier. 

Satan’s lies sound so good in the beginning, but never deliver on the promise: “If you gossip about that person, you will feel better about yourself; if you steal this money, you will have enough; if you watch porn, you will feel good; if you take these drugs, (or eat this food, or buy this thing), the pain will go away; if you marry this person, they will make you happy.”

When I pursue things in these worldly areas to make me happy, I am attempting to live independently of God. The world tells me that the more possessions I have, the happier I will be. People go after these different things trying to be content and fulfilled when God is the only one that can truly satisfy us.

In Jeremiah 9:24 the prophet states the solution to verse 23: … But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me. (HSCB)

How can I understand and know God, as this scripture says? That means I should expect to know God’s heart and know Him personally!

Just like in a healthy marriage or good friendship, the more time through the years that two people spend together, they should know each other better, as they learn the likes and dislikes of the other person. This should allow the relationship to flourish and be more intimate. That's how it should be between God and me.

As I let Him transform my thinking about “things,” I will find a deep contentment, satisfaction, and joy that can only come from Him. 

Prayer: God, I realize that the things the world says are important and that I have been pursuing, do not satisfy me. I've made a mess of my life and I have spent too much time and energy going after things that can never fill the “God-shaped vacuum” inside me, reserved for only you. God, I need you. Help me to pursue YOU and let you daily transform my thinking.