TODAYS BIBLE READING:
 

Because of pride, we so often get it wrong. God is God, and we are not. For a healthy relationship with Him we can never forget that. God knows what we need for the building of our faith and the breaking of our self-righteousness, as we read in James 1:2-4, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." So often, we flip this relationship. We make a proclamation of faith, increase our church attendance, increase our giving and service, pray a little more. Then we sit back and wait to see if God will perform for us. We actually put God on trial, in essence, saying, "If you are real and powerful, then I will see positive results in my life." Many will give it a little while, but when they don't see paid dividends for their new commitment, they walk away disillusioned, falsely believing that God has failed their test.

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When Jesus is tempted by Satan, Satan's final temptation along with Jesus' response is recorded in Luke 4:9-12, "Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you', and 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " Satan does what many people do, he either misquotes Scripture by eliminating a word or two, or takes it out of context, by isolating a particular passage apart from the totality of Scripture. Jesus knowing where Satan is going with this temptation, quotes Scripture and applies it correctly, by stating that we are never to put God to the test. Despite many of Peter's mistaken rash statements and actions, it was Peter's heart that was usable in his relationship with God, as we see him respond to the Lordship of Jesus in Luke 5:8, "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" On the other hand, the scribes and Pharisees were blinded to Jesus, because elevating themselves over God, they continued to feel they were in a position to put Jesus on trial, as we see in Jesus' response in 5:31-32, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Realize that we are all sinners, so Jesus was stating that those who are full of their self-righteousness fail to realize their need for a Savior and will miss their opportunity to repent and enter into a relationship with him.

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So, we must reflect on ourselves and our attitudes. Are we accepting the trials placed before us and growing in our relationship with God, or are we filled with pride and reversing this relationship and even if not openly stating so, are we putting God on trial. Peter got it right. He didn't obediently listen to Jesus after being instructed to pull out from the shore, then falsely and pridefully approach Jesus and give Him his CV and state the reasons why Jesus is making a wise decision to choose him, due to his accomplished record and amazing qualifications. He fell on his knees in total submission, realizing that he himself had nothing to really offer, relying totally on the mercy and grace of His Savior. Total and utter humility is the necessary starting ground for a true relationship with Jesus. We really get to see Jesus in action when we step back and realize what He actually accomplishes through sinners like us. Those denominations that preach to test God by handling poisonous snakes, or those prosperity churches which preach a "name it and claim it" mentality, have mistakenly flipped the true relationship on it's head. We don't name anything and claim anything or ever put God to the test. We have the right to claim nothing and deserve nothing and should raise our hands up to our Lord in total thanksgiving that He has allowed us, the unworthy sinners that we are, to enter into a relationship with our perfect God.