How many times have you done something, not necessarily because you want to do it but because you felt the need to prove to someone that you can do it?
Afterwards, the feeling might be that of emptiness, or why did I even waste my time with this person/thing? It was not worth it.
People who are not worth your energy or time always seem to be the ones that have the capability to make you do things to prove worth. The funny thing is that, they already are aware of your worth, so their aim is basically to make you begin to doubt yourself, act out in pride.
I was reading the story of Jesus temptation and I got a whole new meaning to it.
Matthew 4 v 3, reads, “And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be Son of God, command that these stones be made bread”.
‘If thou be the son of God’…, this words were used twice by the tempter, and when Jesus did not rise to the occasion, the tempter came with a different tactic.
Jesus is the son of God. Jesus knew this, and the tempter also knew this. He was definitely present at the water baptism of Jesus, so he cannot claim ignorance. He also knew that Jesus as God could do no sin, yet he tried.
We fall easily into the trap of the devil when we try to prove something. The devil comes in by casting doubt on our identity and then we rise to the occasion and enter into the trap he has set when we allow pride to take over.
Your Identity is your identity. You don’t need to prove it. When you are secure in your truth, it’s harder for the devil to draw you into responding.
Don’t allow the worlds questions such as, are you really a child of God, then why does he not answer/do this and this yet? to make you act in ways you do not want to. Why do you not speak, why do you not respond, why don’t you just go with the flow?…etc.
Yeah, the bible also says be ready to give an answer, know what you believe…[1 peter 3;15 AMPC] …“Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully”
There are genuine people who really want to know the reason for your faith in Jesus, but while responding it should be with gentleness and respect.
Its up to us to know when to respond and to dismiss the not so subtle attempts of the tempter to draws us over to his side.
