Day 2
Temptation is hard to resist, whether it’s cheesecake or caffeine, telling lies or adultery. That’s why we should be close to God to fight temptation. Christians put on the armor of God to fight a supernatural battle against sin (Ephesians 6:10-18). The Torah includes stories of how Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan to eat forbidden fruit. The first man and woman disobeyed God and ate from the Tree of Knowledge. In Islam, Adam Alaihis Salam received words of inspiration after he sinned. He and his wife were forgiven in their lifetime. Yet, in the Christian tradition, the descendants of Adam and Eve live with original sin and should seek the forgiveness given through the crucifixion and resurrection of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ). Original sin is not a feature in Judaism and Islam.
In the gospel (Matthew 4), it is recorded that Jesus was tempted by Satan. Jesus was fasting in the wilderness and as he completed his forty days of fasting, the Devil tried to provoke Jesus to misinterpret Scripture and even worship Satan, but Jesus fought the Devil with the correct understanding of God’s Word. We must study God’s Word and keep it in our hearts during moments of trials, testing, or crisis. We cannot tempt God and we must remember it is not God tempting us (James 1:13). It is often our own ego. Humankind will be tested though, but if we prevail, we will be rewarded by God. Temptation is apart from God, but testing is permissible. So, imagine you are sitting in a classroom and a teacher issues a test over reading comprehension of several short stories you covered in the curriculum. This is the test, but you hear a classmate whisper looking for answers, hoping to cheat off your test. This is temptation from another source. We must not bend to the whims of Shaytan (Satan) or even our egotistical desire to win friends. Stand firm and upright. Uphold the principle of no cheating! Prepare for and pass your test.
Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala has ninety-nine names and each one gives us insight into His nature, wisdom, and power. Al-Jabbar (The Irresistible or The Compeller) is a holy name of God. God only compels us to do good. Allah does not tempt us; He tests us.
According to Christianity, Jesus is our first love (Revelation 2:4). In Islam, we are taught to love God and the Prophet, peace be upon him, more than we love ourselves. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God’s love is immense, and He demands we give our all. God has sent us prophets and messengers that we may be guided. We are taught in the Bible, that Christ’s disciples will be distinguished by their love for one another (John 13:34-35). How do we love one another the way God loved us? We offer provision, bestow compassion, protect from harm, give strength. Give thanks! In many ways, we sacrifice for each other. We give up time or sleep to listen to a loved one. We give up comfort to concentrate on God and His plan for us. In relationships with family, friends, and co-workers, we often must be the first to initiate good tidings or love. From then on, do not harm nor abuse nor break the back of a caring individual. Give more than you take, because it is better to give than to receive.
First, love. Then, do no harm.
Homework:
Review the greatest commandments according to Jesus and describe practical applications:
“And he [Jesus] answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself” (Luke 10:27).
How do we avoid causing harm with our speech? There is a Torah prohibition called onaas dvarim against causing pain with our words. The Torah is everyone’s inheritance. Read through it and study its commentary. A good website to begin your studies is Chabad.org.
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