I’m currently reading through Matthew. Chapter a day. Okay, a chapter every few days. Anyways, as I read Matthew 4, “The Temptation of Jesus,” I realized Satan knows his Scripture. Much better than I do.
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and…
Still on Clowney’s book because I’m terrible at reading/enriching myself, but this book is short and sweet. A few words that I found compelling and convicting follow, each one speaks loudly on its own, but taken together they provide the proper (faith-driven, God-dependent) lens for us to interpret the seemingly mundane day to day activities, which really are anything but insignificant.
“God appoints our time in seasons.
Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.
Zeal sharpens discernment. Opportunities cannot be bought up by a sleeping steward.
What opportunities do you perceive? The first doors are in the room where you are…the surest way to miss future opportunities is to ignore present ones.
Young people often spend years being educated before any purpose in their education becomes apparent…To conclude that the major decisions affecting the course of life must be made under such circumstances can be depressing indeed. It is heartening to remember the promises of God’s faithfulness, but action is needed, too. In the student’s calling, there are today’s opportunities which God sets before us to prepare us for those of tomorrow.
It is in the service that you render whether in the classroom or out of it that your gifts are proved and manifested. But you must seize the opportunity in the soberness of wisdom and the zeal of love.”
I suppose these excerpts are about living a purpose-driven life, but more succinct than the contemporary Rick Warren.
“That’s life, full of chances and challenges, my son!”
That’s what my dad texted me after I said I don’t know the names of the food we usually order at a local Chinese restaurant. Unexpected, but cute/funny.
