Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, October 6, 2024
I have a great fondness for Flair pens. I keep a colorful clutch of them in a goblet, close to the chair where I tend to such daily activities as writing greeting cards, to-do lists, plans, journals, plus catching random ideas so they won’t fly away.
This week I read something that struck close to my heart, so I grabbed an index card, carefully printed it out, and nestled it in the goblet of Flairs so I’d remember to share it with some people who might also appreciate it.
This morning as I glanced at the goblet in passing, I smiled, thinking how I’d tucked a remark in a bunch of markers.
I like quotable quotes (remarkable remarks?) even more than Flair pens. Many years ago I started a digital file I christened, “Quotes for Respite,” and sometimes when I need a break, I’ll open that file and read a few quotes. Here’s a sampling:
“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.” – Hal Borland
“When people tell you how young you look, they are also telling you how old you are.” – Cary Grant
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
“Those who wish to sing always find a song.” – Swedish proverb
“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” – E.B. White
There are many more where those came from!
Sometimes I’ll read or hear someone sharing a quote in order to make a point, but they lose me along the way because something about the quote sounds “off.” Maybe I’ve heard the same quote attributed to someone else, or to several other people. Often it’s because I’ve read the author they’re supposedly quoting, and what they’re sharing just doesn’t sound like something that author would say – either the style or the substance just doesn’t ring true.
And yes, this makes me think of Jesus. How often in the New Testament we hear Jesus quoting the Old Testament. And how well He knew those Scriptures.
Immediately after His baptism, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where He fasts for forty days. At the end of this time, a being who is described as “the devil,” “the tempter,” and “Satan” appears and tempts a famished Jesus with three promises – IF. “If you are the Son of God . . . . If you are the Son of God . . . . If you bow down and worship me.”
Jesus responds each time with a quote – not a clever saying He remembers from a rabbi, but verses from Deuteronomy, from the Word of God:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 NIV)
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:7 NIV)
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10 NIV)
In the midst of pressing these three temptations on Jesus, Satan also decides to quote Scripture. In Matthew 4:6 he quotes Psalm 91:11-12 – almost. He leaves out a line, and misapplies the Scripture passage.
After Jesus resists all three temptations by quoting Scripture, Satan leaves Him. But He doesn’t leave Him alone. As we read the gospel stories, we see him dogging our Saviour’s footsteps day after day, until those footsteps lead to the cross.
But it was not a defeated victim who died on that cross, but our victorious, triumphant Saviour.
The devil doesn’t leave us alone, either. He dogs our footsteps, trying to trip us up. In Ephesians 6, Paul gives us the good news on how to stand strong:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV)
This armor includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Spirit, and the word of God.
So as we step out into this brand-new week, we know we can be fully equipped for whatever it may bring our way. Fully equipped, and fully covered by Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
And you can quote me on that.