Absolute Single-heartedness

 Having a double heart causes us a lot of problems. That is when we are torn between believing or doing two different things. It doesn't really matter why we are undecided. It is just the fact that we can't make up our mind or heart that leaves us open to temptation in that area. Jesus showed us the importance of absolute single-heartedness when He was tempted by Satan after His baptism. (Matthew 4:10) Satan offered to give Jesus the whole world, if He would just bow and worship Him. That would be a great temptation for a lot of us, but Jesus knew God's Word, so He quoted it to Satan, and told Him He would only worship and serve the Lord with absolute single-heartedness. This shows us what needs to happen with us, so we do not have trouble with temptations from any source.

We will have temptations. That is part of being human and a part of being in this fallen world. We will be tempted by the world system, the flesh, and the devil. In each case we will tempted by something which we might think would be good for us or bring pleasure. However, if we are grounded in the Word of God, we can respond with the "Sword of the Spirit" using God's powerful weapon to repel the thought or feeling to do the wrong thing. That is why we need to be set on the Lord and His Word with an absolute single-heartedness. Then, we have answered the question in our own heart and mind before we are asked to do the wrong thing. It doesn't make it easy each time, but it makes it simple to decide to do God's will, not what the world, the flesh, or the devil would lead us to do. The result is a much better life.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 5-7.