TEMPTATIONS ALONG OUR WAY!

      When the time was right, Jesus was baptized by John, and when he came up from the Jordan, his Father proclaimed: you are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.(Mark 1:11) Wow! What a moment. It was the beginning of his journey and it began with a powerful affirmation from his Father… but even before his hair had dried, Jesus was “pushed” into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil (Diabolos). It's a scary thing to think that Jesus would be tempted before he began his ministry... and it's even scarier to reflect on what temptations may be coming our way... if we choose to follow in our Lord's path. Only God knows, of course, but one thing is for sure- we will be tempted! Some of us will be tempted by wine and pleasure, some of us will be tempted by corruption and compromise, and some of us will be tempted to sell our souls to please ourselves. Our temptations will take on many different forms... but they'll all be designed to entice us to a) choose an easier and softer way and b) make our journey- even our work for God- all about us! We’re always under attack. Diabolos (the Devil) is always near, waiting for an "opportune moment" to bring us down, whether that moment comes when we're in our wilderness... or when we're drunk on our own wine. We cannot experience a Christian journey without temptation. It's not possible. Therefore, it's important for us to understand the temptations that our Lord conquered... and the way in which he conquered them.

      According to Matthew, Jesus was hungry and exhausted when the Tempter shinnied up beside him... and sowed the seeds of doubt. He used the "IF" word and suggested that Jesus could meet his own immediate needs... and serve God at the same time. Look, he seemed to say, IF you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Take matters into your own hands, Jesus! Feed yourself. Your Father knows that you need strength because your cross will be very heavy. Feed yourself, and then you'll have the strength to do God's bidding. But Jesus replied, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” Jesus needed bread, of course. We all do, but NOT in place of His Father’s word. God knows that we need the things that nourish us, but not nearly as much as we need Him. Along the way, no matter our calling, we’ll be tempted to meet our own needs first. We may even be tempted to believe that we're doing God's will when we take matters into our own hands, but nothing satisfies like the word of God and nothing is more pleasing to God than our obedience.
      The Devil didn't tempt Jesus with something that would've been unthinkable. He didn't try to tempt him with anything that was immoral or tawdry. Instead, he offered something that would satisfy Jesus' immediate needs... if he took matters into his own hands. It was a temptation that revolved around obedience and trust... and Jesus rejected it. So, Diabolos tempted Jesus with a self-serving way to make a name for himself and show the world that he was the Son of God. If you're not tempted to feed yourself first, Jesus... at least you should make a name for yourself. Look, the Tempter seemed to say, you can spend years walking around Galilee, teaching and healing a person now and then… OR you can make headlines… by hurling yourself off of the highest point of the temple. Call CNN, issue a press release, and the entire city of Jerusalem will turn out to watch, as you defy the laws of nature.  You will be an overnight sensation and you have nothing to lose. IF you are the Son of God, your Father will save you! He will send his angels to lift you up- just as Scripture says- because His plan of salvation depends on it. It’s a no-brainer, Jesus… unless, of course, you don’t trust your Father… or aren’t even His Son. Jesus was presented a choice... between the world's way and his Father's way. and he replied, “It is written: do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Friends, be aware! If you are tempted to put yourself at the center of your Christian journey, seek the word of God immediately! If your work will make you a star, you may be on the wrong track!

      Tempting Jesus to put himself first, didn’t work. Tempting Jesus to force God’s hand, didn’t work.  Tempting Jesus to trust in anything other than God's word, didn't work. Jesus knew His Father's will because he knew Scripture and because he had a vibrant prayer life. Jesus' strength was not based on his own ability to make things happen or to make a name for himself... but on faithful obedience to his Father's will. He knew who he was and whose he was... and thus, he was not confused or thrown off guard by the Tempter's lies. So, the Devil decided to appeal directly to Jesus' ego. He took him up to the top of a high mountain, and noted something like this: Look, Jesus. Look at it in all of its glory. Take it in. Consider all the good that you can do for these poor souls. Think about the evil that you can get rid of. Think about the difference that you can make in people's lives. It can all be yours… 'if you will bow down and worship me.' Why die for a world that you can own? Why hang on a cross when you can sit on a throne? It’s your choice, Jesus… serve God and go to the cross. Serve me and rule the world. What do you say? And Jesus, who would later pay for our sins on a blood-stained cross, said, “Get away, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
      Then, the Bible says, Satan left him, and the angels came and attended to him. After all, he still needed a little food and a lot of TLC! It's a powerful story in many ways, isn't it? We can celebrate the victory that our Lord had at this moment, for one thing, and we can use his example to protect ourselves, can't we? After all, we have God's Word too. And we can come to know it too! We can let it speak to us and become part of us too. And what is more, we also have the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised... which fills us with faith and leads us in the way we must go. In short, we are armed, equipped, and able to put... and keep God first! And it's important that we do, lest we become careless and get drunk on ourselves. “When the devil had finished all this temptation, he left him (Jesus) until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13) This may be the most frightening verse in Scripture… because the Tempter is cunning… and very, very patient! Amen.