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| Vol. 15 No. 9 September 2013 | Page 14 |
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Home | Archive | Guest Book | Links | churches of
Christ | Contact Us | Salvation | Blog
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| Vol. 15 No. 9 September 2013 | Page 14 |
Robert Rawson
For some, the obsession with certain forms of temptation occurs over and over again. Jesus taught us to “Watch and pray that we enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). It is so good to be a constant person of prayer. This is the very first thing to do when faced with temptations that persistently influence us.
Remember the daily reminders of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 4:9). They were to be reminded by notes that were placed in strategic places so that as they awoke in the morning or as they walked in the path to work in the fields the reminders would be read. Having reminders will help us to overcome daily. This moves us to the third point.
Let us overcome temptations one day at a time – even sometimes, one hour at a time. By pointing our lives to the more spiritual thoughts, entering into prayer times and having steady reminders of the Lord around us, we can limit the effect of temptation.
[Editor’s Note: This short article is superb – biblical, practical, timely and brief. Brother Rawson has proven that teaching and preaching doesn’t have to be eternal in length to have eternal benefits. Thank you, brother. ~ Louis Rushmore]
Charlie L. Snodgrass
God created all things for sure; however, thorns and the like are a curse that the first sin of Adam brought upon the earth. “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field” (Genesis 3:17-18). There is a natural enmity between man and the thorn bush.
It is recorded in three of the four Gospel accounts that a crown of thorns was placed on the head of our Savior Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2). In a manner of speaking, we could say, Jesus traded a crown of thorns for a crown of life. James tells us that a crown of life is promised to those that love God (James 1:12). Jesus promises the crown of life to those who are faithful (Revelation 2:10).
Paul reminded the Galatians that Christ bore the curse of the law when He was crucified. He referred to Deuteronomy 21:23, which reads, “His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”
The very effect of God’s curse on man was plaited and placed on the Holiest of all, and the end result is the greatest of prizes: a crown of life! In the beginning, God created all things. Man sinned. God cursed the ground and thorns grew. Man took thorns, the object of that curse, made a crown and ignorantly placed it on the head of our Savior. Then, man scoffed at Him and mocked Him. Finally, man hanged Him on a tree. Jesus bore the effect of our curse on His head. Jesus traded a crown of thorns for a crown of life. Will you trade your crown of thorns for a crown of life?