Prove yourself Week 35, 2026

 Ordinarily you would have ignored the remark, but it has come repeatedly: “If you love me then prove it”. The demand to prove your worth, prove your love, prove your manhood is an ancient tool of manipulation. It takes the focus away from the evil demanded as proof, and diverts the discussion to “How can I be sure you are what you say you are?” It has been used on youths relentlessly. A predator having wormed his way into an unsuspecting pure virgin’s affection now pressures her: “Prove your love!” Demanding from her what must be given only after “I do” in the presence of her parents and the ministers of God. “Are you with us? Then take these from your family and bring them here.” And so the pressure to prove I am an independent person, not tied to the apron strings of my parents pushes you headlong to steal, lie and do whatever it takes to gain acceptance by those you look to, not knowing you are the prey. Don’t give in. Remember Samson: Jdg 16:15(ESV)  And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” When Delilah spoke these manipulative words her real interest was the 1100 shekels of silver promised by each of the 5 lords of the philistines to obtain Samson’s secret (over $142,000). He caved in; she took the money. Samson is history. If  you give in your self worth drops precipitously, and when complications set in you hear “How am I sure I am the one?” Even if you married them. Suicidal thoughts have in this way come to some who fell. Never give in.

Listen - it is Satan speaking those words to you, tempting you. Mat 4:3(ESV)  And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  Jesus never needed to prove His sonship to Satan, or to the world. Neither do you. Three times in the wilderness experience the temptation was “Prove you are the Son of God; prove it by doing something other than what the Father has said, prove it by toeing a different path” but each time He chose the way of the word. “It is written…” The very works you do in obedience are the proof of your sonship. Jn 10:24-25(ESV)  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,” many a miracle did the Lord Jesus Christ; at no time did he turn a stone to bread. The person who you should prove yourself to is God your father. The proof of your independence, of your love, of your manhood lies in doing the opposite of what the tempter wants. Mt 27:40 (ESV)  “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” but Jesus did not do so. He did the will of His Father and died on the cross. That gave proof to those there of His sonship Mt 27:54(ESV)  When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” after that God gave the greatest proof of sonship Rom 1:4 (ESV)  and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. Living by every word of God is the proof of sonship