May 8, 2022

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Psalm 119:9-11,32-33

The one who senses conviction of sin (for this is the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudge) will seek relief, one way or another. If he or she rebuffs the Holy Spirit’s whispering call to repentance, the “relief” will come in the form of a counterfeit: gaining approval from people for the erroneous way that he or she is taking (for such approval is very easy to find). And the heart shrivels and hardens by yet another slight degree.

But if this dear one recognizes that the discomfort of conviction for sin is for his or her ultimate benefit, then the answers provided in the word of God suddenly become desirable! By taking heed according to Your word, the small, hard heart softens . . . and grows in capacity of understanding. The realization of a deepened understanding is itself a reward, but it is only the beginning!

And to man He said, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28

In dealing with temptation, Jesus never considered that there could even be an excuse for sin. Such an admission would mean that Satan had won, and the world would be lost. This is exactly why the tempter worked so hard to make the earthly life of Jesus as trying as possible, that He might be led into sin. And this is also why he works so feverishly to glamorize sinful lifestyles before the eyes of today’s professed Christ-followers.

Jesus dealt with temptation thus: “It is written.”

While He walked the earth, there were many who sensed their need of Him, and they longed to cleanse [their] way. They saw a depth of kindness in those eyes, and felt a peace that is the deepest longing of every heart. There were still others who avoided Him, having been near Him, for the purity of His stainless life was an unwelcome rebuke. If only they had recognized this as a silent revelation of their own pride! Yet, the humble carpenter is still building His family right up to this very minute. Each of us is invited to build upon Him who is the chief cornerstone.

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50

H A P P Y   M O T H E R ’ S   D A Y !