The Starting of Our Life & Career and the Temptations of Jesus

The temptations of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13 and Matthew 4:1-11) occured just before Jesus bagan His ministry. They are like the final examination that a student undertake before he graduated into the workforce of the society. They are the three key questions that one must find the answer before we start our life in the society. The answers shall be the guide posts that will lead us to success and a life without regrets at our death. The answers cannot be derived and proven by external means as the devil repeatedly wanted Jesus to do. Man can talk. But a talking parrot does not a man make. There is no need to prove that you are human being. You know yourself for sure. So, what are the 3 keys questions that you need to know and need not prove?

The 3 Keys Questions 

1. Your Identity - Who are you?
2. Your Relationship - Who, your Father, cares about you?
3. Your Journey and Destination - How will you live and where and what you will have?

The related Tempations:

Temptation 1 Are you the Son of God? Prove it by turning rock to bread.

Temptation 2 Are you sure your Father loves you? Prove it by jumping down to see if your Father care.

Temptation 3 How are you going to live to get your glory? Take the short-cut to your destination of glory by just worshipping me, the devil.

Do we need to prove who we are?

You don't need to prove to yourself who you really are. You will know it not by conducting experiments but by discovery. You, as a created being, will need to ask your creator, your God, to tell you. Your passions, your natural abilities, you characteristics that are created by God will reveal to you. God tells us we are created in the image of God and Jesus came to give us a new life in Him as children of God. You may start your life knowing that you are a child of God when you receive Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.

While we don't need to prove who we are, but there should be evidences of our live and work that reflect who we are. We love others not because the laws say so but because we are children of God, who is love. We love because it is in our character as child of God. We don't act in love to prove. We don't get our being by acting. We are first and we just act out naturally from what we already are. The way it works is BE-DO-HAVE. We are loving first. We do good works according to our love. We than have the love and respect, and the evidences, of schools, hospitals, etc and the people that benefited from our loving actions. The devil want us to perform first to become. It is the Have-Do-Be mindset. We must have money, do good work, then become good man. If we give to become good, or to be perceived as good, then there is this ulterior motive of good reputation rather than the simple and pure motive of love without credits or rewards. 

Jesus refused to act on Satan's term to prove His worth and identity. Satan's ways to turn rock to bread, to jump down agaisnt gravity, to take short-cut, to worship the wrong one, are all violation of God created natural laws for abundant living. Jesus refuse to do anything to violate God's laws. 

Jesus however, in His ministry, did many great works, that the people themselves were amazed and know that He was of God. Jesus need not prove to himself or to the devil, but Jesus does want to show himself to the people that they may know that He is the Son of God. In John 10:36-38 Jesus challenged them to see his work and know that He is the Son of God. Jesus' work, Luke 4:18-19, good news to the poor, set the captives free, healing, raising of death, abundant life... in summary to destroy the work of the devils. 1 John 3:8.

Here is mind-map that contains the details for your learning and reflection:

Lim Liat (c) 15 Sep 2015

The Most Gullible People - Christians

One of the most gullible and easiest people to cheat is probably a Christian, of whom I am one. All in the name of love and forgiveness.

Many years ago (I hope we grow up to be wiser by now), during one of our baptisms, a candidate asked me aside for lending him some money. I figured that a brother in need, needs to be helped of course. Why even lend, give. Then he requested I keep it a secret. Of course, as any kind person should. Save his face. Let not your right hand knows what your left hand is doing. Later, another brother called to ask me if I have given some money to so-and-so. My first response was, "didn't he tell you to keep it a secret?". Lo and behold, we quickly found out that he had 'borrowed' money from many of us. You will also know the end of the story, he disappeared from church after that.

Such story happened in many Christian home or cell groups too. We are so happy to have new members to join our group and so happy to help people that someone can easily come and 'borrow' away much money and then do the disappearing act. So we have to inform home/cell group leaders and members to take note when people want to borrow money and report them to the leadership.

Forgive and forget is another famous preaching of the church. It is easily exploited as well because of such high sounding but blur or foolish teaching.

Someone comes to borrow a large sum of money from you. Not only he did not pay you back but ask you to lend him another big sum because of his needs. He asked for your forgiveness and appeal to your love to help him again. He quoted 'forgive and forget' and "forgive seventy times seven times". Should you lend him the money again?

Any normal earthly being will say no except the blur believers.

We have confused forgiveness and trust.

You can forgive the hurts and betrayal in the first time when you extended the trust, but you don't have to entend your trust again when the other party has already and clearly demontrated that he is not trustable. To trust in spite of the counter evidence is foolishness and it is not love at all.

We have such common saying that " A leopard can't change his spots. ." or "江山易改本性难移" dynasty easily changes but basic character is difficult to change.

Don't be even more loving than God. God did not forgive and forget the devils.

Love has wisdom within. Loving without wisdom is induglence and spoiling. Be not fooled when someone want you in the name of love and forgiveness.

Be wise. Is he trustworthy? Does he deserve your trust? What are the supportive and counter-supportive evidences.

Lim Liat (c) 10 Sep 2015

See also The Making of False Teachers