Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 5
Wednesday

CHANGED
LANDSCAPE


READ:
Matthew 4:1-11
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Jesus was led up
by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be
tempted by the devil,
__ Matthew 4:1
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I love my garden. But living in the Midwestern US during winter reduces my beautiful garden to a frozen, snow-covered, barren landscape.

It wasn't like that in Eden, Eden was a breathtakingly beautiful garden year-round. And it was in that garden that Adam and Eve basked in the stunning creation of God and the joy of perfect harmony with Him and with each other. Until, that is, Satan arrived on the scene, bringing weeds, thorns, destruction, and death.

You can't help but notice the contrast between the landscape in Genesis 1 and Matthew 4. The same tempter who once entered God's garden now welcomes God to his turf--the dangerous, barren wilderness.

The wilderness can be a picture of what the world--and life--becomes when Satan has his way. With one decisive blow, the joy of Eden was replaced with the barrenness of shame (Gen. 3). But Jesus was victorious
on Satan's turf! (Matt.4). In that victory He gives us hope that we too can have victory. A victory that shows us the enemy no longer holds sway. A victory that assures us the day is coming when we will no longer toil in Satan's wilderness but will be ushered into heaven, where the joy of Eden will be ours--forever.

Now that's something to look forward to! __ Joe Stowell
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FOR FURTHER STUDY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~For more informatin about our future "Eden,"~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~go to www.rbc,org/bible-study/~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~strength-for-the-journey/daily/51990.aspx~~~~~~~~~
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As you journey through the wilderness of temptation,
Christ's victory is yours.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 4:1-11***************

1 Then Jessu was led up by
the spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil.

2 And when He had fasted
forty days and forty nights,
afterward He was hungry.

3 Now when the tempter
came to Him, he said, "If
You are the Son of God,
command that these stones
become bread."

4 But He answered and
said, "It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of
God.'"

5 Then the devil took Him
up into the holy city, set
Him on the pinnacle of the
temple. 6 and said to Him,
"If You are the Son of God,
throw Yourself down. For it
is written: 'He shall give His
angels charge over you,'
and, 'In their hands they
shall bear you up, lest you
dash your foot against a
stone.'"

7 Jesus said to him, "It is
written again, 'You shall not
tempt the LORD your God.'"

8 Again, the devil took Him
up on an exceedingly high
mountain, and showed Him
all the kingdoms of the
world and their glory. 9 And
he said to Him, "All these
things I will give You if You
will falll down and worship
me."

10 Then Jesus said to him,
"Away with you, Satan! For
it is written, 'You shall
worship the LORD your God,
and Him only you shall
serve.'"

11 Then the devil left Him,
and behold, angels came and
ministered to Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In 1 John 2:16 we read about Satan's seductive strategy: "For all
that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world." Satan
uses this strategy in both Genesis 3 and Matthew 4. See if you can
identify how those three elements appear in both passages. __ WEC