This and that... resistance

I can't really think of any one thing to write about, so this will be some bits and pieces I've picked up the last couple days.

Motivation is difficult for me right now. It seems everything is in chaos. I'd like to blame tRump for it all, but while he is certainly guilty of more than his fair share, he has plenty of help.

TEMPTATION

I'm still enjoying N.T. Wright's 'Luke for Everyone' commentary series. Yesterday was Luke 4:1-13 about Jesus' temptation. On Jesus not responding to the devil with an argument, N.T. says,

"Arguing with temptation is often a way of playing with the idea until it becomes too attractive to resist."

 This is true. The longer it dwells the bigger the temptation swells. Best to just nip it in the bud and move on.

Today's reading was the scene where Jesus returns to Nazareth and reads the Isaiah passage in the synagogue and then says it's about him. Everyone got upset and wanted to throw him off a cliff - though not because of his arrogance. It was because Jesus was saying God was going to rescue the wrong people! God wasn't only going to help them... but everyone! They kinda sorta were hoping all that grace stuff would be all theirs. They didn't want any part in being a blessing to others. And some things never change...

WHAT DID JESUS WEAR?

Somewhere I ran across this little article on what Jesus wore. The writer says it probably wasn't what we thought, though I don't know that what he describes is all that different than what I thought... Anyway, it was an interesting short read... 'What Did Jesus Wear?'

HUMILITY

The article 'How To Become More Humble' probably caught my eye not so much because I thought *I* needed it, but maybe it was because of the first night of the Republican National Convention (or the recent news about Jerry Falwell Jr.).

At any rate, it is a very short, concise, well-written piece about something ALL OF US could use.

Humility involves (a) awareness: an accurate self-awareness of one's strengths and weakness, (b) openness: the ability to openly accept feedback and criticism while presenting your own views respectfully, and (c) empathy: an empathic concern for the well-being of other people.

The way to get there:

1. Seek feedback
2. Set aside defensiveness
3. Focus on empathy

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So, as I try to resist the urge to discuss politics or give in to my fears... I hope to focus more on facing my own temptations, looking to Jesus, and growing more humble. Whether I do it or not... who knows... but it seems better than the alternatives.

James 4:6-10
"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."