Do No Harm
Text: Luke 4:9-12
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (NRSV)
Some of the details of the final temptation in the wilderness make this text very thought-provoking. First, the devil is now using scripture and says, “For it is written…” Second, Jesus, instead of saying “it is written,” says, “It is said”. Of course, what Jesus is talking about can be found in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 6.
What I want to think about this morning is the fact that the devil is using scripture to tempt Jesus. It is important that I do not use scripture to promote things that I want that can come between God and me or be harmful to others. It is a temptation to use scripture to support the things we want to do, even when those things can actually separate us from God, bring about harm, or cause other unintended consequences.
Scripture was used to promote slavery, scripture was used to promote genocide during the time of Manifest Destany in the early spread of our country across the North American continent, scripture was used to prevent women from voting, and scripture is still being used today as a political football.
Perhaps the lesson here is that I not only need to carefully use scriptures to support my agenda, but I need to think through the possible harm to others as I use it. If there was one thing that Jesus was absolutely clear about, and there were actually many, it was that love of God and love of others were the most important commands of all. John Wesley said it this way, “Do no harm.”
Pray with me:
God of love and God of truth speak into my heart as I use your word to be passionate about your way. Help me to always remember that foremost in the heart of your Son, Jesus was to love you and to love others and to do no harm. AMEN.
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (NRSV)
Some of the details of the final temptation in the wilderness make this text very thought-provoking. First, the devil is now using scripture and says, “For it is written…” Second, Jesus, instead of saying “it is written,” says, “It is said”. Of course, what Jesus is talking about can be found in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 6.
What I want to think about this morning is the fact that the devil is using scripture to tempt Jesus. It is important that I do not use scripture to promote things that I want that can come between God and me or be harmful to others. It is a temptation to use scripture to support the things we want to do, even when those things can actually separate us from God, bring about harm, or cause other unintended consequences.
Scripture was used to promote slavery, scripture was used to promote genocide during the time of Manifest Destany in the early spread of our country across the North American continent, scripture was used to prevent women from voting, and scripture is still being used today as a political football.
Perhaps the lesson here is that I not only need to carefully use scriptures to support my agenda, but I need to think through the possible harm to others as I use it. If there was one thing that Jesus was absolutely clear about, and there were actually many, it was that love of God and love of others were the most important commands of all. John Wesley said it this way, “Do no harm.”
Pray with me:
God of love and God of truth speak into my heart as I use your word to be passionate about your way. Help me to always remember that foremost in the heart of your Son, Jesus was to love you and to love others and to do no harm. AMEN.
Recent
Archive
2021
January
Christ In MeIt's A StruggleLiving Out the MessageWhere is Your Heart?Why Give?Do Not be AfraidBlessed AssuranceDon't Leave it up to ChanceIntentional Self-CareTrust and FaithHave I been Crucified with Christ?Burning HeartsSolid FoodTo God be the GloryThe Friend of the BridegroomPure HeartsSeeing God EverywhereIs There No One to Intervene?Teach Me To PrayRedeeming the BadIncomparable GloryCare for God's CreationLife that is Really LifeOperating out of LoveBroken ChainsGod's Gift of GracePay it ForwardFrom Alien to CitizenRooted and Grounded in LoveDoes Jesus Still Weep?
February
Welcomed with LoveFaith DemonstratedLove When I Mess-UpWhat is the Source of my Words?Healing Found in ConfessionExperience is BelievingHoly LivingFrom Fall to GloryGrowing into our SalvationMy Life as a Beacon of LightJoining the People of GodExiles from the Broken WorldLet it GoDon't Get EatenTo Know or to KnowRepetition of the WordMyths or Personal ExperienceGod's TruthEyes to SeeLooking God in the EyeSelf-DeceptionForgive Me My SinWhat Makes Jesus Tick?Don't be Drawn AwayChild of GodJoyous Extravagant GenerosityActing Out TruthLove Restored
March
No Fear in LoveDon't Worry be HappyWorries and DistractionsDon't Be SuperficialSimplifyWorshipDo No HarmSpiritual HealingWhy Not Bring Them to Jesus?Self-CareLooking for JesusWhat's NextHunger for the WordGod Knows BestPrioritiesStaying CenteredThinking Outside of the BoxThe Impact of My Faith100% + 100% = 100%Seeing Strange ThingsAll Are WelcomeThrow a Party!Worthy of Receiving and Giving LoveLOLRecreating With New ClothRulesTake it to the LordTotal DependenceWhat Spills Out of You?Enough SaidThe Faith of an Ousider
Categories
no categories
No Comments