Tuesday,  February 27, 2007
Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

This story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness warns us of three of the most powerful temptations we must guard against in our lives. The devil doesn’t take it easy on us but preys on our weaknesses. Too often we make decisions based on the power of our stomachs. We do not think we can skip a meal or live without a certain kind of food or physical comfort in life. This way of thinking leads to a “never enough” mentality rather than a “God provides” way of thinking. Jesus reminds the devil and us that “Man does not live on bread alone.”

Second, we are captivated by the thought that we might be noticed and we allow the recognition and value that others give us to motivate us more than the inherent value that God gives us as his beloved children. Jesus reminds the devil and us that it’s not about who is paying attention to us, but who we are paying attention to: “Worship the Lord your God and him alone.”

Finally, we are tempted to give in to fatalism. We shun personal responsibility and think, “Whatever happens is meant to be.” Too often this is not faith. Instead we are giving in to laziness, despair, and the devil’s temptation. Jesus reminds the devil and us that we should not “put the Lord your God to the test.” The Spirit empowers us to take the responsibility to act with God and on God’s behalf for good in this world.

Often when we go through difficult times like these we can’t help but ask the question, “Why is God allowing this to happen to me?”

This story of Jesus being tempted reminds us that while we don’t always understand why we have to go through difficult times, God is in control of these situations and can bring about a greater good from them. Even Jesus was tempted but the Spirit was the driving force behind these events, not the devil.

Forty days seems like a long time to be in the wilderness but the Spirit used this time to strengthen Jesus rather than weaken him. Jesus’ practice of spiritual disciplines gave him the strength to resist the devil’s temptations. He had undergone the spiritual discipline of both fasting from physical food and also the fasting from the need to be recognized as someone that community can plant in us. He had also spent many hours throughout out his life in the study of God’s word and these words provided his best weapon against the devil. When the devil showed up, Jesus had already been purified and strengthened and so he was able to resist each temptation.

Lent is a time to return to the practice of spiritual disciplines, to prayer, fasting, and Bible study. These are the ways that we are strengthened and refined to face temptation and difficult times in our lives. If you have not yet made a commitment to give Jesus your focus in one of these ways during these 40 days, I encourage and challenge you to do so during the rest of this holy season.

Prayer: O God, give us the discipline to draw close to you through spiritual practices so that when we are overwhelmed with the temptations of the devil and this world, we will have the strength to resist. Thank you for the continual power and presence of your Spirit in Jesus name, Amen.

The Temptation of Jesus
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"

9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.