First off, that is totally up to God at this moment.
The statement "Timing is Everything", and "In the right place at the right time" and "The third time is the charm", are all things we have heard so many times in our lives.
Our family wants to be doing exactly what God has for us, but often that is very difficult to discern what "Exactly" is. With that in mind and James 1:27 in my mind we want to announce that we have started the adoption process of a 13 year old, special needs, young man from China. The adoption agency calls him "Vince" but we can call him whatever we like. We are praying that God would make it abundantly clear to us, by opening and closing doors along the way. Please pray along with us to those ends. We are going to move forward as long as God allows us to do so and try to be faithful to what He wants us to do, and just leave the rest up to Him; we are going forward until He stops us.
This is uncharted territory for us, but not for God, or for Vince. There have been 2 other families that have tried to adopt Vince, but for various reasons it has not been allowed to go through. God is BIG and maybe that reason is that the Weinbergs are supposed to have another son to love.
So, here is what we need you to pray for;
That God would make abundantly clear to us His will for "Vince" and for the Weinbergs, by opening doors wide and closing doors tight, so that we don't get the wrong idea. At this moment in time I can't, humanly, see anything that are any "no's" but we want to be sensitive to His leading.
That God would work out all the details in this process, as "Vince" needs to be out of China by Jan. 24th, his 14th BD, or he can not ever be adopted in country or out-of-country. There is a lot to get done in this amount of time and our family already has much to do, so this will be tight.
That God would provide the funds to do this, as many people have 2-3 years to set aside dollars to make this happen and this will need to be funded by the end of this year. God is BIG and if He wants it to happen He has it covered.
That God would already be working in "Vince's" heart and drawing him to Himself. The biggest change in any of our lives comes when Christ comes in and makes us new creatures, so pray that God would work in Vince's heart even now.
As I said before, this is new ground for us, and change is always difficult, but God is faithful and if this is His will He will take care of every last detail. Our God is a very personal God who cares for His children.
Lastly, I stated in a previous post that an acquaintance has 4 children, "not their own". Being a rookie in the adoption world, this is not the right terminology and was not intended to take away from the fact that as an adopted child of the King, we are His own and when the adoption process is complete these children are truly "our own". Thanks for the heads-up Kim, as I want to be sensitive to these kinds of things; sometimes I need those kinds of helpful encouragements to keep me on the right track.
God is good and we need to praise Him rightly.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Simple yet so Profound
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Without even a reference almost every American could probably tell this verse. It has to be one of the most memorize, familiar verses in all the Bible and yet it is so full of truth; truth that really should change the way we live.
Lately I have been listening to sermons by John Piper, but probably not the way that most people do. I listen to them generally around 10 times before I go on to the next. Dr. Piper has given 2 sermons to this verse and I have only completed the first week, but it is very good. I won't give you the entire sermon, just some high points for me.
There is a God and He does have a Son. This Son was not some product of God the Father having sex with some goddess. Apparently many people think this is how God has a Son. They are equal yet different. The Son is subject to the will of the Father, but He is perfectly so; in other words, His delight is to do the will of the Father. Often, when we are subject to authority, we place ourselves under their rule, but not very willingly. In Jesus' case He demonstrated that we can be subject to authority and have that be our highest delight.
One of the things that Piper talks about is the way we should think about what Jesus did on our behalf and even a different way of thinking what the Father really was asking Him to do. This is a paraphrase. Imagine saying to your son, "Son, there are millions of people on this planet that we have created. These people are my enemies and there is only one way that allows for the payment of their sins to be paid while still keeping our righteousness intact. Even though they are our enemies we must win them back and the only way this can happen is if You go to earth and make the way possible. You are the only way. You will be ridiculed, tortured, hated and hung on a cross to die. You will have to die and be buried but after I turn my back on you I will raise You up and You will be with me again". Jesus not only submits to this request but it is His joy to do so.
What wondrous love is this.
The second thing that really struck me was "perish" and "eternal life". These two thoughts are contrasting thoughts in the verse. John is telling us that everyone will have a form of eternality; everyone will either live for eternity or die for eternity. Our sins must be paid and they either have been paid for on the cross or they will be paid for in Hell for all of eternity. This is not new thinking, but sometimes we just need to be reminded.
Do your friends realize that at the end of this life, many of them enjoying themselves like there is no tomorrow, they will have "hell to pay" for their stay here on earth. Imagine going on a cruise for a few months. You have paid the price to get on the boat and all the food is included. You are traveling the world, having a great time, seeing lots of new things and just generally enjoying yourself to the fullest. As you go you don't limit your pleasure at all, but because it's a cruise you just put everything on your room tab. The cruise comes to an end and you have to now pay the ship's steward. You have no idea what your bill is and when you find out, it is so high you have no way to pay it. This is life for so many in the world around us. They had a great time while they were here, but were not thinking of the cost.
There is only One who can pay our debt of sin and that is Jesus Christ. He didn't come to earth to be our fire insurance; He came to be our treasure. There is no cruise, no vacation, no new car or house, no brand new baby, no nothing, that compares with the Treasure that is Him. Have you accepted Him as your Treasure?
Believing/receiving in not just saying that you acknowledge that He is a person; even Satan does that. There are many reasons we might receive someone into our home; "It's the repairman, let him in". "We're having company tonight so make sure your rooms are clean". What Jesus requires is that we invite Him in to stay and to actually have reign in our lives. He is not coming for the weekend, but forever. We can receive people with a totally wrong attitude, but Jesus knows our hearts and He requires willing, humble submission to His authority.
Just some thoughts that may help you share the Gospel with others and remind you of the cost of our redemption.
Without even a reference almost every American could probably tell this verse. It has to be one of the most memorize, familiar verses in all the Bible and yet it is so full of truth; truth that really should change the way we live.
Lately I have been listening to sermons by John Piper, but probably not the way that most people do. I listen to them generally around 10 times before I go on to the next. Dr. Piper has given 2 sermons to this verse and I have only completed the first week, but it is very good. I won't give you the entire sermon, just some high points for me.
There is a God and He does have a Son. This Son was not some product of God the Father having sex with some goddess. Apparently many people think this is how God has a Son. They are equal yet different. The Son is subject to the will of the Father, but He is perfectly so; in other words, His delight is to do the will of the Father. Often, when we are subject to authority, we place ourselves under their rule, but not very willingly. In Jesus' case He demonstrated that we can be subject to authority and have that be our highest delight.
One of the things that Piper talks about is the way we should think about what Jesus did on our behalf and even a different way of thinking what the Father really was asking Him to do. This is a paraphrase. Imagine saying to your son, "Son, there are millions of people on this planet that we have created. These people are my enemies and there is only one way that allows for the payment of their sins to be paid while still keeping our righteousness intact. Even though they are our enemies we must win them back and the only way this can happen is if You go to earth and make the way possible. You are the only way. You will be ridiculed, tortured, hated and hung on a cross to die. You will have to die and be buried but after I turn my back on you I will raise You up and You will be with me again". Jesus not only submits to this request but it is His joy to do so.
What wondrous love is this.
The second thing that really struck me was "perish" and "eternal life". These two thoughts are contrasting thoughts in the verse. John is telling us that everyone will have a form of eternality; everyone will either live for eternity or die for eternity. Our sins must be paid and they either have been paid for on the cross or they will be paid for in Hell for all of eternity. This is not new thinking, but sometimes we just need to be reminded.
Do your friends realize that at the end of this life, many of them enjoying themselves like there is no tomorrow, they will have "hell to pay" for their stay here on earth. Imagine going on a cruise for a few months. You have paid the price to get on the boat and all the food is included. You are traveling the world, having a great time, seeing lots of new things and just generally enjoying yourself to the fullest. As you go you don't limit your pleasure at all, but because it's a cruise you just put everything on your room tab. The cruise comes to an end and you have to now pay the ship's steward. You have no idea what your bill is and when you find out, it is so high you have no way to pay it. This is life for so many in the world around us. They had a great time while they were here, but were not thinking of the cost.
There is only One who can pay our debt of sin and that is Jesus Christ. He didn't come to earth to be our fire insurance; He came to be our treasure. There is no cruise, no vacation, no new car or house, no brand new baby, no nothing, that compares with the Treasure that is Him. Have you accepted Him as your Treasure?
Believing/receiving in not just saying that you acknowledge that He is a person; even Satan does that. There are many reasons we might receive someone into our home; "It's the repairman, let him in". "We're having company tonight so make sure your rooms are clean". What Jesus requires is that we invite Him in to stay and to actually have reign in our lives. He is not coming for the weekend, but forever. We can receive people with a totally wrong attitude, but Jesus knows our hearts and He requires willing, humble submission to His authority.
Just some thoughts that may help you share the Gospel with others and remind you of the cost of our redemption.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Pure Religion
James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James is giving a picture of what true religion looks like. Many of the early church Christians would still have seen the Pharisees as a model for what their religion was to look like. But they were much more hearers and talkers, than doers.
James talks about the tongue and that we should not be quick to speak. He talks about not being angry and that we should receive the Word, not just to receive it and say, "Oh that is nice", or "Yeah, so and so needs to hear that", but receiving it in a way that we hold our own lives up to it and intently examine if we are the type of people the Bible calls us personally to be.
I find it interesting that James boils it all down into 1/2 of a verse. If you want to have pure religion, take care of widows and orphans and keep yourself unstained from the world.
That seems like a very condensed set of "rules" to live by, but maybe there is more to it. Keeping ourselves unstained by the world is pretty much a full time job that we will never complete while here on earth; so that one is tough. What about widows and orphans? Does James really mean that we are all to take care of widows and orphans? I guess he could be saying that we are to all to be sacrificial in a way that could be helpful to the care of widows and orphans, but it really seems he is saying that we are to care for them, personally; to actually take an interest in their well being and then do something about it.
There are many people that would have a difficult time, right now, in caring personally for an orphan or a widow, but there may be ways to facilitate that without actually having them in your home.
Teresa and I went to a fund raiser last night with some people who are going to pick up their second adoptive child in about a month. These people don't have lots of money, they don't drive fancy cars or live in fancy houses, but they are following the directive James gives here by sacrificing much to bring a child into their home that would otherwise have no home.
What can we do? What impact can we make if the time is not right to bring either a widow or an orphan into our homes? Very tangibly we can give money and food to those who are able to care for them. We talked to a lady who has 4 adoptive kids and none of her own; the oldest is around 7, the youngest around 4. She is not only busy with normal things, but the kids all have to go to some kind of extra treatment sessions for many medical issues, speech, or emotion trauma- from living w/o any real connection for the first years of their lives, they have serious detachment issues as they only know what has happened in the past- someone takes them in and then they end up back in an orphanage; those kinds of things.
I guess I am just trying to think electronically through what God is calling us to do. "How will they hear w/o a preacher?" and what if the "preacher" is their new adoptive family? Think about bringing a soul into your home that would probably never hear the Gospel and you get, how ever many years you have with them, to show them the love of Christ that they would not get to see in their former situation.
If we are not in a position to bring one into our home, the cost currently is $20k plus and maybe we should help facilitate an adoption for someone who really can't afford it but is ready and willing to make that happen.
Just some thoughts running through my mind this beautiful Saturday morning. I know there are some adoptive parents who read this blog occasionally and I would love to hear your take on this subject.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James is giving a picture of what true religion looks like. Many of the early church Christians would still have seen the Pharisees as a model for what their religion was to look like. But they were much more hearers and talkers, than doers.
James talks about the tongue and that we should not be quick to speak. He talks about not being angry and that we should receive the Word, not just to receive it and say, "Oh that is nice", or "Yeah, so and so needs to hear that", but receiving it in a way that we hold our own lives up to it and intently examine if we are the type of people the Bible calls us personally to be.
I find it interesting that James boils it all down into 1/2 of a verse. If you want to have pure religion, take care of widows and orphans and keep yourself unstained from the world.
That seems like a very condensed set of "rules" to live by, but maybe there is more to it. Keeping ourselves unstained by the world is pretty much a full time job that we will never complete while here on earth; so that one is tough. What about widows and orphans? Does James really mean that we are all to take care of widows and orphans? I guess he could be saying that we are to all to be sacrificial in a way that could be helpful to the care of widows and orphans, but it really seems he is saying that we are to care for them, personally; to actually take an interest in their well being and then do something about it.
There are many people that would have a difficult time, right now, in caring personally for an orphan or a widow, but there may be ways to facilitate that without actually having them in your home.
Teresa and I went to a fund raiser last night with some people who are going to pick up their second adoptive child in about a month. These people don't have lots of money, they don't drive fancy cars or live in fancy houses, but they are following the directive James gives here by sacrificing much to bring a child into their home that would otherwise have no home.
What can we do? What impact can we make if the time is not right to bring either a widow or an orphan into our homes? Very tangibly we can give money and food to those who are able to care for them. We talked to a lady who has 4 adoptive kids and none of her own; the oldest is around 7, the youngest around 4. She is not only busy with normal things, but the kids all have to go to some kind of extra treatment sessions for many medical issues, speech, or emotion trauma- from living w/o any real connection for the first years of their lives, they have serious detachment issues as they only know what has happened in the past- someone takes them in and then they end up back in an orphanage; those kinds of things.
I guess I am just trying to think electronically through what God is calling us to do. "How will they hear w/o a preacher?" and what if the "preacher" is their new adoptive family? Think about bringing a soul into your home that would probably never hear the Gospel and you get, how ever many years you have with them, to show them the love of Christ that they would not get to see in their former situation.
If we are not in a position to bring one into our home, the cost currently is $20k plus and maybe we should help facilitate an adoption for someone who really can't afford it but is ready and willing to make that happen.
Just some thoughts running through my mind this beautiful Saturday morning. I know there are some adoptive parents who read this blog occasionally and I would love to hear your take on this subject.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Gossip revisited
Thanks for the comments, but I am really trying to get answers to this question. Maybe it would help if I added more to my question. Since the Bible doesn't give a definition of gossip, but only instructs us to not gossip it makes this a little harder for me.
It seems knowing what to say and what not to say is important on so many fronts, even beyond work; small group, ministry staff issues, kids, spouses, friends and the list goes on. If we truly want to help others we need to do some research before we go to them, but that seems like it can easily turn into gossip.
How can we irritate others to love and good deeds when we don't have all the facts? We can observe others behavior but we still may be left with something that doesn't exactly fit from what is being said compared to what is being done.
I guess the thing I am wondering if the "private" part. If I am doing something publicly, for all to see, and whatever it is I am doing does not fit with what I am saying, should others be able to discuss my public actions without me being there? It seems that is totally different than if the discussion is about something that is totally private; like the tabloid kind of stuff.
So, that ask the question with an example; is it gossip to watch someone being rude to someone else, watch the hurt on the offended party's face. knowing that you have had the same experience with the same rude person go to the offended party and ask if this is a pattern in this other person's life?
That seems much different that going and asking if they had heard about such and such a thing that was happening in this person's home that no one else knows about.
Looking for wisdom and counsel.
It seems knowing what to say and what not to say is important on so many fronts, even beyond work; small group, ministry staff issues, kids, spouses, friends and the list goes on. If we truly want to help others we need to do some research before we go to them, but that seems like it can easily turn into gossip.
How can we irritate others to love and good deeds when we don't have all the facts? We can observe others behavior but we still may be left with something that doesn't exactly fit from what is being said compared to what is being done.
I guess the thing I am wondering if the "private" part. If I am doing something publicly, for all to see, and whatever it is I am doing does not fit with what I am saying, should others be able to discuss my public actions without me being there? It seems that is totally different than if the discussion is about something that is totally private; like the tabloid kind of stuff.
So, that ask the question with an example; is it gossip to watch someone being rude to someone else, watch the hurt on the offended party's face. knowing that you have had the same experience with the same rude person go to the offended party and ask if this is a pattern in this other person's life?
That seems much different that going and asking if they had heard about such and such a thing that was happening in this person's home that no one else knows about.
Looking for wisdom and counsel.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Under the wing time
Ps 61:1 Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!
More and more lately I am finding that wherever I turn I am faced with some kind of vain work or conflict. Most of these are not huge issues, just things that I wish I didn't have to deal with; things that make life the way life is, but make life hard. As Solomon says, "Life is hard and them you die".
I am not always looking for the easy way out but I am finding sweet rest from the vanity of life by going to the Word and always finding the same Shelter there. It is so refreshing to just sit down and read a little to take the cares away for a moment; to gain some wisdom and understanding and really to just get away to a place where my cup is filled with good things.
Like a little chick who is tired and scared runs to its mother and hides under her wing for rest and security; I can run to the Word and get the refreshment from the Fountain that allows me to keep going. The little chick comes out ready to tackle the word again, maybe for just a few minutes even, but the time spent under the wing was good.
I want to spend more time under the wing, but I am under the wing to get refreshment in order to be spent by Him Who is the Wing. I can't just spend all my time in the Word and not pass on what I have learned to others, but that is where it gets messy. But that is why we are here.
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!
More and more lately I am finding that wherever I turn I am faced with some kind of vain work or conflict. Most of these are not huge issues, just things that I wish I didn't have to deal with; things that make life the way life is, but make life hard. As Solomon says, "Life is hard and them you die".
I am not always looking for the easy way out but I am finding sweet rest from the vanity of life by going to the Word and always finding the same Shelter there. It is so refreshing to just sit down and read a little to take the cares away for a moment; to gain some wisdom and understanding and really to just get away to a place where my cup is filled with good things.
Like a little chick who is tired and scared runs to its mother and hides under her wing for rest and security; I can run to the Word and get the refreshment from the Fountain that allows me to keep going. The little chick comes out ready to tackle the word again, maybe for just a few minutes even, but the time spent under the wing was good.
I want to spend more time under the wing, but I am under the wing to get refreshment in order to be spent by Him Who is the Wing. I can't just spend all my time in the Word and not pass on what I have learned to others, but that is where it gets messy. But that is why we are here.
Gossip
I am not sure if this is right and would like some input from someone who maybe has been thinking about this more than I have.
As a business owner I find it necessary to have conversations about staff members with other staff members. I need to find out how one person is doing at their particular job from their supervisor or their contemporary. God has placed wise counselors all around us for us to ask them questions, but if we can't talk about anyone that is not present, then those wise counselors are of little use. Often I ask my wife her take on someone so I can make a more informed decision. But the question is; when is it gossip?
I looked gossip up and the overarching theme seems to me that it is talking about private, intimate matters when that person of interest is not present. So as I evaluate my own life I need to consider if what I am asking is relevant to this person to effectively make decisions about how we should move forward.
I am trying to figure out the line. I am not one who likes to find the line and get as close to it as possible, but it seems that in the case of gossip there can be a need to discuss things, without the person present, that would not be considered gossip. I am asking more than telling here.
If I brought in the person's supervisor and we talked about this person's performance, leadership ability and things like that in order to determine whether this person was a good fit for our leadership team; that seems perfectly fine to me. Even though that person is not in the room and may never even know we had the discussion.
But, it seems like it turns into gossip when something comes up like; "hey did you hear that his wife is cheating on him", or "I think she is anorexic", or something that would hit the front page of the tabloids. Things that are really no one's business and could be kept in the privacy of their own home, if I had not said something.
As a business owner I find it necessary to have conversations about staff members with other staff members. I need to find out how one person is doing at their particular job from their supervisor or their contemporary. God has placed wise counselors all around us for us to ask them questions, but if we can't talk about anyone that is not present, then those wise counselors are of little use. Often I ask my wife her take on someone so I can make a more informed decision. But the question is; when is it gossip?
I looked gossip up and the overarching theme seems to me that it is talking about private, intimate matters when that person of interest is not present. So as I evaluate my own life I need to consider if what I am asking is relevant to this person to effectively make decisions about how we should move forward.
I am trying to figure out the line. I am not one who likes to find the line and get as close to it as possible, but it seems that in the case of gossip there can be a need to discuss things, without the person present, that would not be considered gossip. I am asking more than telling here.
If I brought in the person's supervisor and we talked about this person's performance, leadership ability and things like that in order to determine whether this person was a good fit for our leadership team; that seems perfectly fine to me. Even though that person is not in the room and may never even know we had the discussion.
But, it seems like it turns into gossip when something comes up like; "hey did you hear that his wife is cheating on him", or "I think she is anorexic", or something that would hit the front page of the tabloids. Things that are really no one's business and could be kept in the privacy of their own home, if I had not said something.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Temptation
1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
I have been listening to some sermons on temptation and trials lately. There are a couple of things that stick out in my thinking that have been helpful to me and may be helpful to you.
Notice in this verse that there is a definite article, or singular, way of escape. God has one right way for us to escape. Often I want to just jump right out of the temptation or trial, but God's way is often through it. Like Moses and the children of Israel coming to the Red Sea, there was only one way to escape; through the water. If Moses sat down before he left Egypt and tried to plan the best escape route, for sure this would not have been on the drawing board. But God not only used going through the water as the way of escape, He also used the water to eliminate the enemy at the very same time. God's way is so much better than all of planning; His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
Te second thing I have been thinking about is that we need to exult in God. Exult-def;to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant. If I am finding my joy and delight in God and my complete desire is for Him, will there really be any strong temptation for me to sin? When we look at broken dirty cisterns for what they are, then we are not inclined to go stick our faces in them. We should be looking into the clean pure fountain of Christ, and that is much more satisfying than the dirty cisterns. The temptation goes away. Like the song, "The things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of HIS glory and grace".
For the fish to be interested in taking the bait, the bait actually has to look good. Our appetite, and diet, must be God's Word and fellowship with Him. Then the temptations won't have a big pull on our hearts. The only way to stay this way is to be reading the Word, praying and have fellowship with other believers. We have to stay plugged in.
I have been listening to some sermons on temptation and trials lately. There are a couple of things that stick out in my thinking that have been helpful to me and may be helpful to you.
Notice in this verse that there is a definite article, or singular, way of escape. God has one right way for us to escape. Often I want to just jump right out of the temptation or trial, but God's way is often through it. Like Moses and the children of Israel coming to the Red Sea, there was only one way to escape; through the water. If Moses sat down before he left Egypt and tried to plan the best escape route, for sure this would not have been on the drawing board. But God not only used going through the water as the way of escape, He also used the water to eliminate the enemy at the very same time. God's way is so much better than all of planning; His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
Te second thing I have been thinking about is that we need to exult in God. Exult-def;to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant. If I am finding my joy and delight in God and my complete desire is for Him, will there really be any strong temptation for me to sin? When we look at broken dirty cisterns for what they are, then we are not inclined to go stick our faces in them. We should be looking into the clean pure fountain of Christ, and that is much more satisfying than the dirty cisterns. The temptation goes away. Like the song, "The things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of HIS glory and grace".
For the fish to be interested in taking the bait, the bait actually has to look good. Our appetite, and diet, must be God's Word and fellowship with Him. Then the temptations won't have a big pull on our hearts. The only way to stay this way is to be reading the Word, praying and have fellowship with other believers. We have to stay plugged in.
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