WATCHWORD:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Meditation:
In the Wilderness
I stood there, wanting to walk away, turn my back on that situation and not get involved. It was none of my business, yet, something wasn’t right, and I knew it. Then that voice again, “walk away, walk away, this doesn’t concern you”, echoed against my resistance. But it was my business, and I waded in, and I made a difference.
We may not be in the wilderness as Jesus was, and yet the temptations are all around, urging us in one direction or another, the right way and… Satan speaks so sweetly, so enticingly, and we are torn. Admit it or not, there’s often a war going on between the devil and our better angels. Do we go one way or the other, the choice is ours. Maybe that way leads to inconvenience, a difficult decision that may cost you dearly, yet, it is the right choice. Or maybe you hear that other voice, so friendly, so assured “You’re really going to put yourself out and you have no idea how much it will cost you. Just forget it, no one will know, no one will hold it against you.”
And so it goes. The conflicts are real, repeated over and over in the course of our days. Sometimes it’s a very small thing, something as simple as a phone call, making a casserole for a shut-in or reaching out to a friend. For me, it too often rests with the idea of inconvenience or just plain laziness. I’d rather sit and write then take a walk, or make that phone call. I have to be truly inspired to do a casserole.
“Sometimes it’s easier to let the devil have his do, it’s less inconvenient, maybe it’s even in your comfort zone.” Says the devil.
In previous Watchwords, we have occasionally referenced the “voice of God”, or the “presence of God” in our everyday lives. For Jesus, out there in the wilderness, he referred to his Father and quoted scripture. What makes you think that is any different than you and me? The geography is different, but you are God’s child, and so the relationship is the same. “Help me Jesus” is not a cliché, its a prayer, an admission that He is in charge and we are not. The same is true when we pray “Thank you, Lord for this day, I surrender it all to you”. In essence, you are saying, “Father, help me to live on every word that comes from your mouth.”
Remember, “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding…” When we “lean on your own understanding” it’s the doorway which Satan uses to get into our minds. It’s the easy way that our better angels find most challenging, to keep us directed on the Will of the Lord. This is where “Trust in the Lord” becomes our beacon, becomes the defense against the urgings of Satan. That is where we say, as Jesus did, “Away from me, Satan!” So be it.
Bulletin Board:
The last temptation is the greatest treason:
to do the right deed for the wrong reason. –T S Eliot
Closing Prayer:
Father God, I do not deserve Your mercy or grace. I am not worthy to gather the crumbs from under Your table, but I thank You that I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and in Jesus name, am able to approach Your throne for the grace and strength I need to keep me from falling, so that I may walk in Your ways and live godly in Christ Jesus.
I pray that You would teach me to draw my strength from Your fathomless resources rather than to rely on my own limited supply. Teach me to trust my life into Your hands completely and to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life, so that I may walk in spirit and truth. Teach me what it really means in Your Word when it says “without me you can do nothing,” so that I may learn the truth that “I can do all things through Christ Jesus, Who gives me the strength.” I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
