As I stepped into this
chapter, I was hit by a full-blown rush of Jesus… His battle with Satan;
preaching in Galilee; calling disciples; more preaching; lots of healing and now
crowds following. The Jesus Adventure begins in
earnest!
Funny, with all of the
goings on, it was the opening sentence that arrested my devotional attention.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the
desert to be tempted by the devil (1).
How is it that the Spirit
would lead Jesus to a place where He would be tempted? Isn’t God supposed to
protect us and keep us safe? If God would lead Jesus into a place of temptation,
would He lead me/us similarly?
My thoughts were churning…
The text is clear; it does NOT say God tempted Jesus.
My mind recalled
1Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized
you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be
tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide
a way out so that you can stand up under it. This verse teaches what
I witness in Jesus’ time in the desert. The Spirit did lead Jesus into the
desert. The devil did tempt Jesus there, but Jesus overcame the temptation
decisively. The way out for Jesus was God’s Word, the Sword of the Spirit (see
Ephesians 6:17 & Hebrews 4:12).
So God may lead us into a
place where temptation happens, but those temptations are never beyond the grace
and ability God has given to us to bear.
Realizing that temptations
loom, I hear the Spirit reminding me, like Jesus, my best defense against
temptation is a firm grasp of God’s Word and a close walk with Jesus who
defeated the devil in the desert and on the cross!
Lord, give me
a hunger to know and learn Your Word. Holy Spirit, be my teacher of the Word.
Jesus, keep me close so that when tempted I have Your strength and Your Word to
defeat Your enemy and mine.
And may Your
Word not only protect me during temptation’s battle but guide me all my days
that my life would be a drink offering to You, the Father and the Spirit. I pray
in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
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