Why did Jesus go into the desert for 40 days where He had to be thirsty, hungry, and face the elements of heat, cold, and discomfort - maybe even come close to dying of dehydration and starvation - JUST so he could prepare to die a horrible death.  Could he have prepared for death in a less uncomfortable way?

Sincerely,
Seriously Sympathetic

Dear Seriously Sympathetic,

Those 40 days were Jesus’ first major test. Jesus had to do more than just go to the cross; He had to live a life free of sin as well (1 Pet 1:19). Christ had to live a perfect, sinless life while still enduring all the temptations that every other human experiences (Heb 2:17-18).

After Jesus was baptized and before He started preaching, He was led into the wilderness for forty days. The purpose of those forty days was for the devil to tempt Christ (Matt 4:2), plain and simple. In a weakened physical, emotional, and mental state (Lk 4:2), the devil threw his best and cleverest arguments at the Son of God.Jesus repelled them all (Matt 4:10). After that initial temptation, Jesus was left alone by the devil for a period of time (Lk 4:13). Jesus’ character is shown not only in how He died… but in how He lived like no other man.

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

My question is: are there limitations on telling a lie?  My wife and I have been separated for nineteen months.  My wife is in a relationship presently and seems to be happy even though we are not divorced.  I pay child support for our daughter.  She has asked me to refinance my home and lower the house payment in order for her to make the house payments.  In order to do this, the mortgage company requires that I live there... which will not happen.  If I refinance and answer the question correctly, I will be lying and committing fraud.  Yet, if I don’t, they will lose the house because they are not able to make the mortgage payment.  I want to do the right thing according to God’s Word.

Sincerely,
From The Outside Looking In

Dear From The Outside Looking In,

Lying is never right.  God tells us to be plain and honest people – let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’ (Matt 5:37).  Doing the right thing is hardest when it costs us something… but that is part of taking up our cross and following Christ (Matt 16:24).  Be honest with your wife (who should not be in a relationship with another man… but that is a separate issue), and make it clear that you cannot refinance a home you aren’t living in – that is the law.  Who knows, it may make room for you to have a conversation about reconciliation (1 Cor 7:10-11).

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

Is it wrong for someone to go to Las Vegas?  I mean, is Las Vegas really “Sin City”?  I lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and it’s turning into a sin city.

Sincerely,
Citizen Sorrow

Dear Citizen Sorrow,

It isn’t wrong to travel to Las Vegas, but many of the reasons people go to Las Vegas are sinful.  Gambling and prostitution are two of the biggest draws to Las Vegas, and both are wrong.  Prostitution is clearly condemned in the Scripture (Pr 23:27-28), and gambling is also spoken against (read “Gambling” for further details).  Like righteous Lot living in Sodom and Gomorrah, righteous people can (and do) live in Las Vegas, but they are constantly vexed by the evils they see (2 Pet 2:7).