The challenge to the SNL group this week is to read the Red Letters in Matthew and discover all that we can about who Jesus is and what He is like. I am not what some call a “Red Letter Christian” but I do believe there is enough there to change the lives of those who care enough to read.
Here is what God is saying to my spirit this morning as I read the red letters.
Matthew 4: 4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
In this passage, the devil is telling Jesus to turn stones to bread so that he can eat. Jesus is at this point in an extended fast and he hasn’t eaten, even though he may not be hungry, I am sure that he would like to eat at this point. (Have you ever tried fasting?) Jesus makes the point here that we need the food of the Spirit much more than we need physical food. We need to get into God’s word and study to see what it is He expects from us. So often we go to the bible when we have a point to prove, we proceed to find the texts that will prove our point and that is about all we do with scripture.
Scripture needs to get inside of us, it needs to be what drives our actions, it needs to be what guides our lives and not just a second thought.
Two more times in Matthew Chapter 4: vs. 7 & 10 Jesus says, “it is written”. The first thing Jesus did to confront controversy is to quote scripture.
What is our first response in times of temptation, trial, or test?
We can see what scripture has to say and follow it or we can do it our way and pick up the pieces later. i am not saying that God causes our way to fail, I am saying that God created us and He knows what is best for us and His way is best. There may be times when doing it our way seems to pay off but the payoff is short-lived.
Ronnie
Let me know what you are learning in the Red Letters.
There are two scriptures that come to mind with this: Psalm 119:11 “Thy WORD I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.”
Philippians 4:8 “…Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, LET YOUR MIND DWELL ON THESE THINGS.” If we would check this everyday, we would do well in avoiding sin.
This could even go with our dress and countenance. If we look in the mirror we can ask “Does my countenance reflect Christ?” Does my clothing draw attention to my body or to my reflection of Christ? This should be our daily routine, just as brushing our teeth. What does my mirror reflect?