Temptation

It is uncommon now to talk about the Devil.  But sadly he is very real.  The Devil is usually thought of as a grotesque 'Hellboy' looking character.  Instantly recognisable and terrifying to behold.  The promotion of this (false) image is, in fact, one of his cleverest strategies.  The Devil is far more subtle.

The Devil is discreet but he is easy to find if you know what to look for.  The Devil exists in you most powerful temptations.  Temptation has always been the Devils province.  In the Bible we read how Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness.  This story, at first glance, seems harmless enough.  We are always sure that Jesus will not succumb, why would he? The temptation to show his power was not that great - or was it?

Perhaps for Jesus the temptation to display His great power (to turn stones into bread, to defy death) was the greatest temptation of all.  How much easier to control the world than to die for it?

The Devil attacks us in the same way that he attacked Jesus: by finding our most powerful temptations and using them against us.  Big temptations, to commit unspeakable crimes, are easy to spot and resist.  But some temptations seem too trivial to bother resisting - but those are the most dangerous ones!  The temptations to make us mean in a petty way, or lustful, or boastful, or unkind, or selfish.  These are the real dangers because they ‘slip in under our guard’.

We must always be aware of the workings of the Devil lest he should turn us aside from heaven, which has always been his intention.

N
    

Merry Christmas 2004

This is just a post to say Merry Christmas to anybody reading my Blog. This is special time for many people both Christians and non-Christians. For some it's simply a 'family' time when family members are reacquainted with each other (even if they seldom meet at any other time of year) For others it is a religious time when their thoughts are turned toward the Lord.

I, Nicodemus, like to treat it as time of 'new beginnings' where resolutions can be made. I realise this is traditionally a New Years thing, but for me it seems more fitting to seal a resolution with a promise to Jesus on his birthday. So if you have any part of yourself that you wish could be improved why not take this opportunity to promise the Lord that you shall do so.

Christmas greetings again my friends - N

Believing you're a Prophet

It seems to me that there are three reasons that anyone would claim to be a prophet. In his epistle to the Corinthians, Paul tells us that it is good to have the gift of tongues, but that it is far better to be a Prophet. The reasons that anyone might claim to be a prophet now can be listed as follows:

1. They believe they are a prophet but are, in fact, deluded.
2. They do not actually believe they are a prophet but wish to convince others that they are.
3. They are a genuine prophet.

Those that fall into the first category are perhaps the most numerous. It is a feature of some types of mental illness that the patient becomes the 'center of their own world'. Because they are the most important thing in their world it seems natural to them that they are the bearer of God's message to all the other lesser folk. These people truly deserve our sympathy.

Those that fall into the second category are confidence tricksters. They claim to have the power of prophesy in order to line their own pockets. What sort of insane short-sighted behaviour! They risk the wrath of the Almighty for ephemeral fame and a few transient creature comforts.

I truly do not know if any of the third type exist. Does God even now send prophets to us? Have we been unable to hear Him for the last 2000 years, or has he simply been silent?

Perhaps having sent his Son he simply waits, and watches.

God bless - N