As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all

God's creation is beautiful. Marvelous. Breathtaking! As I look outside and see the life of spring and summer...the green trees, the blue blue sky, the warm sunshine...

I think of Matthew 6:28b-29 "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

How beautiful is God's creation!! Oh it takes my breath away sometimes. His glory is revealed so plainly in the things he has made it brings tears to my eyes!

Now,.... I am going to say what is not "popular", but I feel the Spirit prodding me to write it.

Sisters, WE too, are His creation. We are beautiful. We didn't make ourselves beautiful. It is not our exercising or haircuts or makeup. We are beautiful because we are God's creation, and His creation is beautiful. Just as our actions should reflect Christ, His creation reflects His beauty and shouts back a praise "How beautiful is the One that made us!!"

So often I have lapses where I buy into the worlds tainted view of beauty. That standard of beauty is a lie. It is so much more shallow than God's view.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Adopting the world's shallow idea of beauty steals so much joy. The beauty of God's creation so far surpasses that. The beauty of a person with the Holy Spirit inside them is captivating!

... let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

And sister, whether or not we think we fit into the world's definition of beauty, because the Spirit of God is inside you, your beauty far surpasses anything, and I mean anything this world can manufacture. *We* can only create using the things the Sculptor has already given us. Think what *God* can do! How beautiful you are in His eyes!!

You know in Revelation where God says He will give the Saints that overcome a white stone with a new name on it?

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)

Listen to Isaiah: And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. (Isaiah 62:2-3)

I think we often poo-poo our talents, gifts and compliments in the name of being modest. It is how many of us were trained after all! Does this sound familiar?

"You look so nice today!"
"Oh, thank you. I really need to lose some weight. I just don't like the buldge right here" (pointing)

Or

"What a good job you did on that report for our boss!"
"Thanks, I really wanted to elaborate the section on ---- more, but ran out of time."

I am slowly coming to the conclusion that answers like these don't honor our Lord. HE made us. He sculpted every inch of us. He gave us our talents. They are a gift from Him. He sees more than our weight, our hair, and more than our shortcomings. He gave us the skill to make that paper for the boss excellent. And maybe, the lady that complimented you on the way you look also sees something more than your dress and your hair...she saw YOU. She saw God shinning through you. And that is a beautiful sight..

Temptation

It is easy for us “old disciples”, “seasoned Christians”, those of us who have walked the walk for a long time and abhor sin to think that we are safe from temptation. At least, we are safe from the “big” ones – right?

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 say about temptation: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

There are so many examples of those “old saints” God falling into temptation because of the indwelling of sin – from Peter, to Adam who fell into temptation, Abraham (Gen 12:13,20:2), David (1 Samuel 13:14) We in ourselves, without the Holy Spirit, have no strength to stand.

John Owen writes, “For ourselves, we are weakness itself. And which is worse, it is the worst kind of weakness. A weakness rising from treachery – a weakness rising from that party which every temptation has in us. If a castle or fort be never so strong and well fortified, yet if there is a trecherous party within, ready to betray it on every opportunity, there is no preserving it from the enemy.”

Temptation let's man see what is inside him – of what metal he is made up of. Many times it also shows us that it is God alone that keeps us from sin.

We always need to be prepared for seasons of temptation.

Temptation can gain it's hour in these ways:

• By long solicitations: causing the mind to frequently think of the evil that it is tempted with

• By restless urgency and arguing. When temptation is in its hour, it is restless and gives the soul no rest.

• By fixing the imagination on the temptation instead of godly things, it diverts us.

• By entangling our affections and emotions in the temptation. When they are engaged, they produce a binding in the mind and a darkening of the understanding

   

As we enter into temptation, it darkens the mind so that we no longer make right judgments.

We should also note that IF we ARE led into temptation, evil will befall us. (Matthew 6:13 “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”)

How do you know when you have entered into temptation?

When a person is drawn into any sin, he can be sure that he has entered into temptation. Many sins of commission are from temptation. (James 1:14). Sin is likely a fruit that comes that root.

One area where it is easy for a Christian woman to leave her self open to temptation happens when she lets her heart grow cold and negligent in the duties of the worship of God. Sometimes this happens because of physical weariness, pride, envy or because the “world” has snuck into her life. Most often in my life, if this happens, it comes from physical exhaustion. What can we do?

The answer: “Watch” and “Pray”

The Lord Jesus gave us this direction on temptation. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mat 26:41, Mk 13:33)

“Watching” reminds us to be on our guard.

One consider the end of any temptation; this is satans end and sins end – that is, the dishonor of God and the ruin of our souls.

We need to consciously be aware of the great danger of entering into temptation. We also need to know that it is God who equips us to resist. In Him we have that power, but not of ourselves. We can pray to be preserved from it..

Watch the seasons. Seasons of outward prosperity can make us vulnerable. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: (Deuteronomy 8:10-11)

Satisfaction and delight in creature comforts position the soul and slowly grow on us. In such a time we must be vigilant to be ready like the wise virgins in Matthew 25 or the day will surprise us.

In a season of great spiritual enjoyment, we can let our guard down and must be careful. We must lay provision in store against the approaching of temptation. This also belongs to watchfulness over our hearts. What provision is intended? Where is it laid up? Our Lord tells us that our hearts are our treasury.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (Matthew 12:35)

We need to keep our heart full of the love of God in Christ. This is the greatest preservative against the temptation of the world. We should be like Joseph when he was tempted, but was so full of love of God, he cried out, “How can I do this great evil, and sin against God??” (Genesis 39:9)

When our heart is filled with better things, the things of God, it is fortified against the matter of temptation.

Many times if we ask someone spiritually wounded, how they got there, they may answer, “Alas! We entered into temptation, we fell into cursed snares and entanglements, and that brought us to the woeful condition which you see!” Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? (Proverbs 6:27-28) No such thing. Men come out of their temptation/sin with wounds, burnings and scars..

If tempted, we need to ask God to deliver us from that temptation. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”

If we are already in a place we shouldn't be, how do we get out? We need to find where the temptation made its entrance, and make up the breech. In other words, Stop the passage which the waters made their entrance at.

Be awake

Consider the aim and tendency of the temptation

Meet your temptation with faith concerning Christ on the Cross

This is part of Ephesians 6:16 – taking up the shield of faith to be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.

Watch and Pray

What should we think is the heart of Christ when he sees a temptation hastening toward us, a storm rising about us, and we are fast asleep? Does it not grieve Him to see us expose ourselves to danger when He has given us warning upon warning? I don't want Him to come to me, as He did Peter with the same reproof, “What! Can you not watch one hour?” (Matthew 26:40)

Let us strive to keep our spirits unentangled avoiding all appearance of evil (1 Thes 5:22) , watch our hearts and continue faithful in prayer.