Wednesday's Writing..."It Is Written"...8/9/17

Good morning,

Today's writing, "It Is Written," is by Corinne Mustafa. The theme is that when we are having a discussion with others or teaching a topic using scripture to illustrate it is the best tool we have. Here is a quote from this writing, "Those words, "It is Written" are perfect when one is involved in a debate that avoids agreement. What better way to know that you are correct than to quote scripture. This would require you to have hidden The Word in  your heart or that you start on a journey of collecting certain Scripture verses that you can be sure God will give you the opportunity to use.

God bless
Corinne
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Today's Devotional 
written by Corinne Mustafa "It Is Written"

I recently listened to an amazing message. called "It Is Written." I knew that Jesus had used  this phrase when He was teaching. However, I never thought much about it, but it makes sense. He was quoting Scripture. What can be better then quoting the written word of God when we are in the middle of a discussion that has more than one opinion being set forth. 

Sometimes. when debating an issue, it often turns out to be true that subjects are not black and white. There are many shades to the beliefs with regard to any topic. I am not referring to to the unchanging truths about God, things He has done, and the beliefs to which we cling. I believe that there is only one truth about such topics, and they should be discussed pleasantly. A interesting idiom says, "You will catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar." So true!

Sometimes our pastor will preach for more than a half hour and then say, "all that was just the introduction." We all laugh and know that we have a series starting up. I am not going to write a series here, but the above two paragraphs are just the set up for this writing.

Back to yesterday's sermon...the topic was illustrated by Jesus in the desert early in His ministry. You will remember that satan came to test Him. Satan's hopes were to tempt Jesus successfully to worship him and turn away from His Father. First, he asked Jesus to turn the rocks into bread since He had been fasting for 40 days. Jesus was hungry, but He would not do it. Then he asked Jesus to bow down and worship him...he got another negative from Jesus. Then he reminded Jesus that He would be protected by angels if He jumped off the high place, and suggested that He do it,.  Again Jesus rejected this temptation as well. Foiled again satan!

This is where it gets interesting, and gives us a model to follow when a discussion we are in gets a bit difficult to deal with. Jesus did not argue with satan. He did not try to convince him that he was wrong, He had a much better weapon. It was a "feather knife" meaning that His weapon was a soft one, that satan could not argue with. Jesus quoted Scripture. 

Still Jesus did not argue or cajole satan. He started his responses with...  

"IT IS WRITTEN...

These verses are from the book of Matthew. Jesus used Scripture to answer satan. The evil one also had a go with it. Jesus was not moved nor impressed. Here are His responses...

 4 Jesus answered, It is written:

 "Man shall not live on bread alone, 

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

 7Jesus answered him, It is also written:

 "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

10 Jesus said to him,
“Away from me, Satan! 

For it is written: 

‘Worship the Lord your God,
 and serve him only."

Matthew 4:4, 7-10

Those words, "It is Written" are perfect when one is involved in a debate that avoids agreement. What better way to know that you are correct than to quote scripture. This would require you to have hidden The Word in  your heart or that you start on a journey of collecting certain Scripture verses that you can be sure God will give you the opportunity to use.

Kutless Singing
"It Is Written"

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Here is an uplifting scripture and graphic

for you to think about.

It is written:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you
by the Staff Writers of 

Women's Focus Ministry

  Jan Andersen,  Cathy Friberg,  Sandy Billingham, Beverley Napier, Shelly Keith, 

Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Karen Bennett, 

Carol Steficek, Amie Spruiell, and  Corinne Mustafa

Occasional Contributors
Kathy Bireley,  Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,

Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns

Glenna Williamson, Lisabeth  Lipp, Nandita Bhatnagar