Together to Avoid Temptation

I would venture to say that when we are alone, temptation will run rampant. It is easy to drift away to an area that is not in the interest of God when there is no one there to hold you to account of following God. We all need the accountability partner to keep us moving toward God. Paul wrote to the Corinthians on this subject as he wrote in relation to marriage in his first letter to the church.

“⁵Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” — 1 Corinthians 7:5 (ESV)

Notice how Paul describes avoiding temptation. Devoting yourself to your partner and only separating to spend dedicated time with God. When we are with God we are focused on Him and that focus is what allows us to avoid temptation. When we are not with God, we are prone to the evil one and the chance to wander away from God. This is when we need accountability partners to keep our mind off of those things that are out of alignment with God. I know that this passage in 1 Corinthians is speaking to the avoidance of sexual immorality. But, I also see the avoidance of evil and falling away from God.

I have, as a sinner, the predisposition to evil. I will, when not in concert with God, drift away and seek the flesh and what is pleasurable to the flesh. Without the accountability of a brother or sister in Christ, there is no positive influence to hold on to. I need that influence. Lori gives me that influence here in our home. We are together and hold each other accountable. When we are with one another, we are not able to wander off the path God has unless we are doing it together.

Lori and I may be apart in the morning and throughout the day, but during those times that we are apart, we are not idle. In the mornings, Lori is getting ready for the day and I am here with the LORD. In the day, she and I are both working and not idle or alone as we focus on the work before us. This is the accountability we need to remain on task with the LORD and stay away from the evil one.

Temptation comes in those times when we are not focused and our minds are wandering and looking for something to take up the time. It is all to easy to be tempted by the evil one when we are not occupying our minds and hearts with the LORD or frankly when we are not occupying our minds at all.

What does your idle time look like? Are you allowing your mind and heart to wander and be tempted? What if you were to find that accountability in others to avoid that time alone when you are not engaged with God?

Celebrate the Found

The parable of the prodigal son is where I was led this morning as I round out my study of the word “found”. I have read and been presented this parable a number of times and have had some wonderful revelations as to God’s word through each of those, and this morning is no exception.

I am to celebrate the found. I know, that may not sound like much of a revelation as when something is found, it is natural to find excitement in the realization of what was being searched. But it does go deeper than just the excitement when it comes to something being found that was lost.

The first thing to think about is was lost verses misplaced. When misplaced, there is a sense of being found once again. My demeanor and approach is a bit different as opposed to when something is lost. The item can and will be found at some point, maybe just not now. That has happened to me before with a pocket knife that I have had for over 20 years. I once misplaced it, and just replaced it with another knowing that it would eventually turn up, and it did. The replacement was adequate for what I was needing and really there was no real loss at all. I was satisfied that I had the replacement and when the original was found I was excited for sure, but I had in the back of my mind I would have it again anyway.

As for something that was lost and found, I have some baseball/softball umpiring equipment that I used in another time in my life. I went looking for it at one point as I was considering reengaging in that activity. I did not find the equipment and felt as though it was lost and frankly just gave up on it. Some time later the equipment was found under a bunch of other items in the garage as we were cleaning some things out. I felt this enormous joy as the thing I thought was gone forever was found and I was able to again pursue that which I was looking to pursue.

Now, I know comparing a pocket knife and umpiring equipment to a son, does not really equate, yet hear me out. You see, it is not the item that we are celebrating, it is the being found. The pocket knife was going to be found as I knew in the back of my mind and in my heart, that it was here somewhere, just needed to look in the right place. With the umpiring equipment, it was given up to never being found and considered gone forever. The prodigal son had left the home and was considered gone forever and yet was found. The father was not celebrating the finding of something that was given up for loss.

“³²It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” — Luke 15:32 (ESV)

I have to remember to celebrate the found. Yes, there is a difference in whether misplaced or lost, although to me I have to celebrate none the less. I have reacquired that which was not here and for that I have to acknowledge and address. I have something that I did not have and in that I have to smile. I have to be like the father that had lost his son and when found, treated him like the treasure that he was when he was lost.

What is misplaced or lost in your life? Are you of any awareness of the difference? What if you do not worry with the difference and only celebrate the found?

What You Seek May Not Be What is Found

This morning I continue my study of the word “found” and was led to a passage in the book of Daniel. Here Daniel was brought in by Belshazzar to read and interpret some writings that his “scholars” were not able. And read and interpret them he did.

Looking to know everything is a great quality to have and demonstrates a desire to understand and apply this learning into any future work to be done. And where it is great, it does not always work out the way it was intended. Sometimes what is found does not measure up to the expectation and will present a negative outcome that some are not prepared nor desire to know. Belshazzar wanted to know that which was contained in the writings, although not fully sure he was prepared for what was found/revealed.

“²²And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, ²³but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored…²⁶This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; ²⁷TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; ²⁸PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” — Daniel 5:22-23, 26-28 (ESV)

Hard truths were revealed by Daniel. Some of them were “known” as noted by Daniel, and others were new learning that was difficult to take when listening. These are the things that we have to be careful of when we go seeking to find something. It is not always that which we were looking for and in a lot of cases, although we would not want to admit it, what is found to be contrary to what we were seeking.

Where I am a sinner like you and not a theologian, I do not claim to know exactly what Belshazzar was seeking in the writings, I am sure that he was taken aback at what Daniel revealed as was MENE and TEKEL and PERES. I am sure that there was some shaking of heads and denials that where exclaimed at hearing something that was not wanted. Yet, again, as Jesus said,

“⁷Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7 (ESV)

Belshazzar exhibited a quality that we all should have when it comes to learning and knowing and that is to seek out. We should all look to know and in doing so what we learn may not always be that which we wanted to hear. We have to remember the purpose of the seeking was to learn and know as opposed to getting the information we were expecting.

When seeking, what you hoping to find? Are you only interested in that which you interpret as a positive? What if you were to seek to find and celebrate the finding, knowing that it may not always be that which you were seeking?

The LORD Will be Found, Only Time is Expiring

Yes, I wrote that correctly. The time to find the LORD is expiring. As we move through each day, we come ever closer to the day He comes again.

“⁶Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;”

— Isaiah 55:6 (ESV)

Jesus will come again and though I nor anyone knows when that might be, everything that we do in His name should be done with urgency and deliberateness. I have to remember that the time for me to reach the LORD and seek His help in this world is expiring. That goes for everyone else in this world as well.

There is a limited number of time for anyone to come to the LORD. Everyone should be urgent in their coming to Him. He is there waiting on you to come, only you have to reach out to Him through prayer to ensure that you are able to accept the salvation that He has given so freely. The thing is that there is not unlimited time for that acceptance. Time could expire at any moment.

Lori is the director of the middle school dance and pep team here in our home town and she and the team were at a football game where they were to perform at halftime only, the clock was not running for all to see. Where this is not a big deal if you are just a spectator at the event, as someone that is going to perform, prep time and performance times need to be known so as not to delay anything related to the event itself. So she relied on me to give her visibility into when they should be moving forward as a team. I provided that visibility and she and the team were able to prepare and perform on time (actually prepped about 5-10 minutes before time). They did not wait until it was too late and there was no disruption caused by them.

Now the above story is just an example of expiring time and the need for the urgency in our lives when it comes to the LORD. It is better for all to be prepared and go at things early as opposed to waiting until the very last minute and hoping it will all work out. Time where the LORD will be found for our accepting of salvation is limited and we have to act now to ensure that we are meeting the deadline and taking advantage of all that He has for us.

When are you going to reach out and find the LORD? Are you waiting for the last moment? What if you were to prepare now and with urgency accept Him and all that He has for you?

Reach Out to God and He will be Found

And just how is it that I reach out to God, through prayer. I know it seems so simple, and it is.

“⁶Therefore let everyone who is godly

offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;”

— Psalm 32:6a

The offering of prayer to God so that He will be found is such a simple and logical concept, that I am not sure it is something that will take root with others. I have often been caught saying that things that are logical and simple do not make sense to others due to it being too simple and logical. I know that I have heard the saying, “one is not able to see the forest for the trees”. And that means that there is this desire to see something more and in reality, it is right it is right in front of you and you are not even aware as you are blinded by your search.

With God, it is simple, pray to Him and He is there for you to converse and have that relationship. And you have have that conversation and relationship anytime. Yes, anytime. I still think about folks like my grandmother and how she had a daily relationship with God. There was a dependence on Him for her comfort and deliverance. When coming into her home, her relationship with God was evident based on the environment surrounding her. Her Bible was on the lamp stand with her glasses and a pen with notepad. There were renditions of Jesus throughout the home and her presence in church was recognized by all.

Oh to have that relationship with Him at my age today. I can. I have only to being the relationship with Him through prayer and calling on Him to join me where I am (although He is already here). I only have to reach out to God through prayer at all times and I will find Him there waiting to strike up a conversation.

With God, there is no busy signal when I call. There is nothing that indicates that the “call cannot be completed”. There is no disconnected line to Him. All I have to do is pray to Him and He is there to take the call and speak with me. No, I will not always get exactly what I want, but He is there to listen and offer advise and solutions to get through it all. I have to trust in the relationship I have with Him and know that relationship is strong and always open for me to come to Him.

What does your relationship with God look like? Are you aware that He is found whenever you call? What if you were to call all the time and know that He is there to take the call and listen, comfort, offer advise, and simply love you?

Seek Him and Find Him

It is too often that there is an expectation that what we are looking for will simply jump out and we will stumble upon it. And when it does, we speak of how blessed we are and that things are really going well for us. The reality is that it was simply an unexpected consequence. We were not really looking for the answer, we were simply looking for the item to be removes so that we would not have to deal with it.

“¹The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, ²and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.’” — 2 Chronicles 15:1-2 (ESV)

What we should be doing is seeking to find and then what is found is what God wants for us in the way of completing His work. All it takes is to seek Him out and He will be found, by you. I see here in 2 Chronicles that it take the active work of seeking to find the LORD. Yes, there could be some “dumb luck” and we stumble upon Him, but we will certainly have more success when we are actively seeking to find Him.

The LORD wants to be found by me. He is waiting for me patiently with arms wide open. He is ready to receive me, I only have to seek Him out and run to Him. Asa, from the time of His reign had been faithful to God and in that faith was granted victories. As he continued to be faithful, he continued to receive blessings of the LORD. But, that faith was not just happenstance. Asa actively sought out to find the LORD and when he did, he was rewarded with protection and continued love from the Father.

I have to remember to seek to find and not just seek to seek. I have to know that the LORD is there for me and more than anything, wants to be found. I do have to seek Him out though and when I find Him, the LORD will be there and will comfort and reward me with faithfulness for my faithfulness to Him.

What is your expectation in finding the LORD? Are you actively seeking Him or hoping He will just be there? What if you sought to find Him, knowing that He is there?