Against The Flow

Two college students from Moorhead, Minnesota, painted a mural on the wall outside their dormitory room. According to USA Today, it showed a school of fish all swimming in the same direction except for a single fish heading the opposite way. The one fish was intended to be the age-old symbol of Christ. Printed on the picture were these words, "Go against the flow" University officials, arguing that the mural might offend non-Christians, ordered the students to paint over it. (Our Daily Bread,1/22/2005)
Last Sunday I shared a message entitled: "Against The Flow" Peter in his first letter to the Christians of Asia Minor, encourages them to remain faithful to their Christian lifestyle, even though they were facing severe persecution in the Roman world.
(Please read 1 Peter 4:1-6) Peter reminds his readers to remember what Jesus died for. He died for their sins. He suffered and died to conquer sin. And as Christians we must strive, to put to death the sinful nature. That desire to do those things, that we know are against the will of God, for our lives. Peter speaks to them about wasting their lives, by running with the world, and sinning. Don't bring back to life that old man of sin, that Jesus gave His life to put to death. Yes the world thinks it strange that we don't join them in sin, and worldliness, and they criticize our values and priorities. Well God will judge them someday. They will have to give an account for their lives. But just as the Christians who have passed on may be judged severely by the world, because they received the Gospel, and turned their lives over to Jesus Christ, they now have that precious promised reality of eternal life. They are now enjoying all the eternal blessings that God promised. Is it worth it to go against the flow? Indeed it is! (GP)

The Temptation Experience

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
There is no doubt that the Apostle Paul understood the experiences of temptation. In essence he says that the temptation experience we are going through is the same many experience. In other words, "It's nothing new". People everyday experience the same types of temptation. To be tempted to pursue, and indulge, in worldly activities, is something that every Christian goes through.
But the good news is, that God understands this experience, and He is faithful to help us get through each temptation experience that comes our way.
You and I are not ging to be tempted beyond what we can handle. In fact, God will make a way for us to escape the strong urge, or desire, to sin against Him.
In what ways does God provide this escape?
It could be through a Scripture that comes to mind, that gives us a warning. Or a similar negative experience that someone else had, that reaped severe consequenses. Or something that someone said, that made us think twice before going through with what we were considering.
It is a great encouragement to know, that in dealing with the temptation experience, we are not alone. God knows what we go through, and He is faithful to see us through. God will help us to stay on the right track. The question is: When God provides the way of escape, will we take it? GP