Trick or Treat

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I have always encouraged my students to ask questions because if they don’t know, how can their questions be considered dumb? Asking is not a bad thing if the motive for asking is pure. However, sometimes questions are asked to test a person’s knowledge or even to trick a person and expose his lack of knowledge. Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. Jesus knowing their motive responded with a question of His own. He asked, “What did Moses command you to do”? They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” Not falling for their trick, Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” The lesson here is that although you may have permission or it is lawful to do something does not mean that you should do it. This applies not only to divorce but is applicable to every area of life. You have a right to do anything you want to, but not all things are a benefit to you. Jesus’ answer was not what the Pharisees expected. They had hoped to trick Him into opposing the law of Moses so that they could find fault with Jesus’ doctrine. Had Jesus said it was not lawful for a man to put away his wife, he would have received the wrath of the wealthy, who put away their wives for any cause. Had He said that it was lawful, they would have said He was not a spiritual Teacher sent from God because His message was flawed. Recognize the tricks; avoid the tricks and strive for the treats. To be continued.

Scripture References: Mark 10:2-9; Genesis 1:27, Gen. 2:23-24; I Corinthians 10:23

Prayer for Today:   Father, I ask you to open the eyes of my understanding so that I may avoid the tricks of my adversary. In JESUS name. AMEN.

Whatever you must do today, there is a grace for that. Accept the grace and make it a sweatless day.

Love                                                                    

Dianne