By Rick Warren, at his Daily Hope blog, May 28, 2017 (www.pastorrick.com/devotional) —————————    We rarely evaluate our values or question our perceptions until we have a crisis.  Once we’re in deep pain, we begin to examine what we’re basing our lives upon.  Whether it’s materialism, feeling good, or looking good, we instinctively realize […]
3331) Now or Later? Read More »
C. S. Lewis’s classic book The Screwtape Letters is an imaginative and powerful look at temptation.  Lewis creates two characters, Screwtape and Wormwood, who are demons in the service of Satan.  Their job it is to tempt a certain Englishman so they can corrupt him, destroy his faith, and win his soul for the devil.  Screwtape is
3330) The Temptations of Middle Age Read More »
   (…continued) Jesus is enduring these forty days of suffering in the desert because God the Father Himself is putting him through it. Why would God do that? Part of the answer can be found in Hebrews 5:8: “Although he (Jesus) was a son, he learned obedience by what he suffered, and once
3308) The Temptation of Christ (2/2) Read More »
Above painting: The Temptation of Christ, Titian (1490-1576) In this brilliant depiction of the temptation story, Titian paints the devil as an innocent child, appealing to Jesus to turn the stone he is holding into bread. He is illustrating the fact that temptations can appear to be very innocent, as it says in II Corinthians
3307) The Temptation of Christ (1/2) Read More »
From the Standing Strong Through the Storm daily devotion at: http://www.opendoorsusa.org ———————————   Satan subtly promotes the attitude that says money, property, possessions, physical comforts, as well as worldly fame and honor are the most important things in life. While God created all things and is the source of all we have, He does
3261) A Great Temptation Read More »
My good friend Chris Brekke does a thrice-weekly on-line meditation, similar to these EmailMeditations. His blog is called “Seasoned Hope” and can be seen at: https://pcbrek2020.wordpress.com/ . Today’s meditation is a repost of his March 2 posting. Thanks, Chris! —————————————–    Hypothetically, in some dark reality, if you were a villain out to ruin
3174) How to Ruin the World Read More »
One of the great Christian classics of the 20th century is The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis (1942). Â Published over eighty years ago, it continues to sell well and has even been turned into an off-Broadway play. Â The book consists of thirty-one letters from a veteran demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, teaching him
3081) Advice From the Devil Read More »
   At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he is tempted in the wilderness by the devil.  Jesus refused to give in to the devil’s three temptations, and then Luke 4:13 says:  “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Jesus until a more opportune time.”    When did that opportune time come?
2988) Your Enemy the Devil Read More »
Adapted from an article by Scott Hubbard, “Do You See Your Soul?,” May 7, 2025 at: http://www.desiringgod.org  *********************************    Picture yourself facing one of your typical temptations. Someone catches you in a little lie, and you are embarrassed; but another bigger lie would explain it all away and save you the embarrassment. A loved
2931) Remember, You Have a Soul Read More »
MARK 1:21-28: They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.  They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you
2802) “I Don’t Know What Got Into Me!” Read More »
