Thought for December 4, 2024

•  1093: St. Anselm consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury. The first to present the ontological argument for the existence of God.
• 1154: Adrian IV, elected as the first and only Englishman to serve as Pope
• 1674; Father Marquette builds the first dwelling in what is now Chicago
• 1881: First edition of the LA Times published
• 1882: Georgia Bulldog Herschel Walker wins the Heisman
• 1991: The Judds final concert--Nashville
• 1991: Terry Anderson released after more than 6 years as a hostage
• Born: Thomas Carlyle, Carzy Horse, Garfield Wood [first to travel over 100 mph on water], Francisco Franco, Pappy Boyington [Medal of Honor combat pilot], Robert Adler [invented remote control for TV], John Portman [architect], Wink Martindale, Max Baer [Beverly Hillbillies], Jeff Bridges, Bernard King, Jay Z, Tyra Banks, my friend Wanda Smith
• Diet: Thomas Hobbes, Charles Dow, Christine Keeler

Thought:

Reading 1 Corinthians 10:13 today. This verse makes me think about every excuse I use when I mess up. 

• Nobody has ever had to face this temptation. I am unique.
• This temptation is just too powerful--anyone would give in.
• There was no way to avoid it. If only I had been given a way to avoid this temptation.
• The temptation was just overwhelming, no one could endure it without giving in. 
• God should not have put that temptation in front of me.

What does Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit tell me about my excuses?

• There are no new temptations--there may be new packaging. It all comes back to the garden. Satan, who knows our weaknesses because he was weak in the same places, uses the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life to tempt us. He used those in the garden and he will use those on December 4, 2024. Now, the packaging may be different--not a piece of fruit, but a pretty face. Not it will make you like God, but rather you deserve it, you earned it.
• God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability. Tell that to the Oreo package. God provides a way to respond to every temptation;
• Jesus quoted the word of God when tempted by Satan. When the sexual sins tempt, God said thou shall not commit adultery. And Jesus explained what adultery was in the Sermon on the Mount. So scripture is a defense and an escape from temptation.
• There are ways to escape temptation. Get up and leave. Turn off the computer or television. Don't buy the Oreos. Do not put yourself in a place of temptation and if you find yourself there, leave immediately. Don't say, well I can stay and it will not get to me--it will.
• Sometimes we cannot escape and have to endure. The three Jewish boys in Daniel could not escape, but Jesus came to help them endure the fire. 

Today, Satan will tempt. It may be simple and small--the car will grab your parking place and the temptation will be speech, gesture, anger, rage. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control. The temptation may be huge. But God will provide an escape--His word, an escape route, or His presence to help me endure without giving in. My excuses are weak, His power is great. 

Blessings

Larry