Do not tempt the lord, Thy God!

[kvnchrist]

That statement is one of many that I've pondered over for a very long time. I know to what situation, Christ's temptation by Satan in the wasteland, but I was wondering how far into our everyday lives can we take this.

I mean we all know that God shows us the paths in our lives and guides our footsteps, but When do we know our actions are placing us in situations that would force God to rescue us just to be rescued? What part have we to keep ourselves on the right path and are there some who actively search for things to be rescued from only to blame God for the situation we find ourselves in?

Is doing so an attempt to prove to ourselves that God exists or a self destructive spiral into despair?

 

[B-A-C]

Acts 5:9; Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."

 

[kvnchrist]

Acts 5:9; Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."

I thank you for your response. The Bible is a great teacher and whenever I see a scripture quoted I just have to go back and read the context in which the scripture presented. I've found some priceless jewels I had overlooked before. Thank you.

I would also like know your feelings about this issue because I truly believe that the lessons we learn in there should be addressed in our daily lives, so that others can possibly enrich themselves off our understanding of the scriptures. Have a wonderful day.

 

[B-A-C]

Heb 3:8; DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
Heb 3:9; WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
Heb 3:10; "THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, 'THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS';
Heb 3:11; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'"
Heb 3:12; Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
Heb 3:13; But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:14; For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

I think we can test God in many ways as well. Sometimes unbelievers want "proof" of God. A miracle or something. It's been my experience that
even when a miracle happens (such as healing from cancer) people explain it away as circumstance and say God had nothing to do with it.
I am reminded of a scene from a Dudley Moore movie called "Arthur" (early 1980's I believe) where his boat sinks a few miles from shore. He starts swimming
towards the shore and he prays to God and says God if you'll just help me through this, I'll get saved and become a Monk. He starts swimming again
and he is very tired, so he prays again, God if you'll just help me get to the shore, I'll become a changed man and go to church every Sunday and quit drinking.
Finally he makes it to the shore and he prays one last time.. God I'm sure glad I didn't need you.

I think it's human nature to "test" God. We always want to know what the limit is. How fast can we go before we get a ticket? How close to the edge can we
drive before falling off? How much can we sin? (instead of asking how little can I sin?) I personally believe people who say God forgives everything (such as
living in fornication, adultery, homosexuality, alcohol abuse, etc..) are actually putting God to the test.

 

[kvnchrist]

Heb 3:8; DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
Heb 3:9; WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
Heb 3:10; "THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, 'THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS';
Heb 3:11; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'"
Heb 3:12; Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
Heb 3:13; But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:14; For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

I think we can test God in many ways as well. Sometimes unbelievers want "proof" of God. A miracle or something. It's been my experience that
even when a miracle happens (such as healing from cancer) people explain it away as circumstance and say God had nothing to do with it.
I am reminded of a scene from a Dudley Moore movie called "Arthur" (early 1980's I believe) where his boat sinks a few miles from shore. He starts swimming
towards the shore and he prays to God and says God if you'll just help me through this, I'll get saved and become a Monk. He starts swimming again
and he is very tired, so he prays again, God if you'll just help me get to the shore, I'll become a changed man and go to church every Sunday and quit drinking.
Finally he makes it to the shore and he prays one last time.. God I'm sure glad I didn't need you.

I think it's human nature to "test" God. We always want to know what the limit is. How fast can we go before we get a ticket? How close to the edge can we
drive before falling off? How much can we sin? (instead of asking how little can I sin?) I personally believe people who say God forgives everything (such as
living in fornication, adultery, homosexuality, alcohol abuse, etc..) are actually putting God to the test.

Thank you sir. I do agree with you that we as humans try to push the envelope, as far as sensations are, but I also believe that challenging danger is the best way to provoke it. These people who do this are living for the moment and for the thrill involved and to me that can be addictive. Life is a gift from God and I don't think it is to be squandered on unnecessary Adrenalin rushes.

I would like to suggest that there may be a different reason for people expecting God to forgive everything they do and that is to give themselves permission to go even further. You don't respect something you can push around and those who think they are free to do anything and get pardoned, have no internal limitations on anythng. To them, I think God is a home plate to run to when things get difficult.