Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!sun-barr!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: johnw@stew.ssl.berkeley.edu (John Warren) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Power of Prayer Message-ID: Date: 14 Apr 91 06:29:44 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Space Science Labs Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article cole@maverick.uswest.com (Cole Keirsey) writes: >Also, consider the example of Jesus when he was tempted in the >wilderness. Satan asked Jesus to pray that stones be turned into bread, >and to throw himself from a steeple. Jesus responded that you should >not tempt God. > >This story says to me that I shouldn't willfully put myself in danger or >need, then expect God to spare me the consequences. In such a >situation, I think God might see that my real need is to learn from my >mistakes. > I see your point. And I agree with it up to a point. However, if our motives are for God's glory and for God's purposes in history and not our own (and only God knows the ratio of selfish motives to God centered motives in our hearts) then it is perfectly appropriate, at times, to put yourself in danger and expect God to bail you out. That's the nature of a trusting faith. The balance here is that you shouldn't put yourself in danger with no external purpose in mind other than to prove to yourself whether God will bail you out or not. In that case, God will probably let you learn from your mistakes, the hard way. Look at Gideon's band of 300 (in Judges 7, I think). They were fighting against 10's of thousands of Midianites. When these Israelites stood on the hill at night with their lamps covered, they were still safe, and they could still bail out. But when they took the covers off, then they HAD to trust in God. God honored that trust, and not a one of them died. And the Israelites drove the Midianites out of their hair. In short, Psalm 91 still applies to the people of faith. > >C. C. Keirsey John Warren