Translation buffet part Dos

Reread Matthew 4:4-10

The first part of this scripture is quite the smack in the face if I do say so myself.

4You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

Being the world’s friend is being an enemy of God? Ouch! Is it not easy as Christians to become complacent? Don’t we long to be accepted by our peers, or even admired? I am guilty of wanting this for myself. I wish my first thoughts were always to God, but they are not. I know that with the recent political buzz in the air Christians are torn on who to vote for. This is baffling to me because I don’t see a gray area. It is not OK for us to allow the abortions of anymore babies in this country. One candidate says it’s fine; one candidate says everyone deserves life. I agree with the latter and this is NOT well embraced by the world. Is it OK for a Christian to say; “well the president has nothing to do with that subject so I am voting for the one who is pro-choice anyway.” I am sorry NO. We cannot serve two masters.

How can we ask God for forgiveness when our heart is in the world? I don’t believe we can. The proud try to balance the sides by having a foot in the world and a foot in the kingdom. Little do they know they don’t have any place in the kingdom. God’s word clearly states; God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). (B) James 4:6. I don’t know if anyone has noticed how hard it can be to say sorry to someone, it is a very humbling experience. I think that as Christians we have gotten away from feeling that our sins grieve the heart of God so we are moving further away from humbling ourselves. The world justifies sin, and so do we. We are not justified in sinning against a God who put himself on the chopping block to save us from eternal hell.

Thankfully God is a God who slow to anger, and abounding in love, Psalm 103:8, we can put our hope in Him who give grace to us.