When No More Proof Is Needed

Today, we're looking at the final temptation in the wilderness. 

Satan's third tactic was to suggest Jesus leap off the temple to "prove" His divinity. He almost certainly hoped for a public debacle and a speedy end to the work of redemption by Jesus's suicidal jump. The tempter goaded Him to prove Himself as the Son of God by a foolish act. 

And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here;" (Luke 4:9 NASB)

As if the affirmation by the river had not proved Him the Son of God, or had not been impressive enough, the devil asked for another sign. "Prove it!" the devil dared Jesus. 

Jesus, however, was not sent to do flashy sky-diving tricks at the temple. 

He came in flesh and encountered people where they lived and worked. He became a part of people's lives. Jesus demonstrated a personal relationship with God by His every day encounters. His signs and wonders served as proof enough.

It's a very human response to want proof. As a physician, I want a well designed, double blinded controlled study to "prove" new theories and demonstrate the effectiveness of new treatments. Knowing how easy it is to be deceived, I want to be sure. We all do.

The Christian life, however, requires a radical faith that believes without seeing. In this believing, we find a personal relationship with a loving God who actively involves Himself in our lives. 

Although we don't see Him with our eyes, we can certainly see Him at work in our lives. 

We don't "see" the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that the Spirit gives us, but we can certainly recognize them when they're there. 

Jesus knew that the work God had already done was manifestation enough. 

He knew that the relationship He came to personalize was enough. 

He knew that the work of redemption He would do on the cross would be enough. 

Enough. 

Enough has been done, and response, not more doing, is required. 

There are days when I want God to do one more thing that will somehow prove His love and concern for me, but that's not faith. Faith accepts the proof that's already been given. Faith participates in the relationship that has already been offered. On God's terms. Not ours. 

We don't need more proof that Jesus is our Redeemer or that His words are true. What we need is to relinquish our desire for self-devised, self-centered proofs of God, and accept the proof He has already given us. When we do, we'll soon recognize the peace and joy (as well as all the fruit of the Spirit) that only relationship with our Lord can bring.
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's blog: Discarding the Real to Have the Fake 

For those who want to do the James study on your phone, here's the link: Lessons in Discipleship

If you'd like to participate in the James study, here's how: More than Enough: Living a Life Worth Living

If you'd like to help support this ministry, here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841

Discarding the Real to Have the Fake

A few days ago, I wrote about the first of Jesus' temptations in the wilderness. (Living on Devil-Bread). Today, we're looking at the second temptation recorded in Luke 4. 

When the bread trick failed, Satan's next tactic was to take Jesus "up" and show Him all the kingdoms of the world. "Worship me and you can have it all," he told Him.

I'm surprised Jesus didn't laugh. He was there, at the beginning of the world, when it was all spoken into existence. (John 1:1) The devil couldn't give it to Him. It was His already.

"I'm not worshipping anything but My Dad," Jesus said. "You can't give me what's already mine." (That's the Leanna paraphrase)

It's a common trick of the enemy of our souls. He offers what's already ours, but we're usually too ignorant of the gifts of God to recognize the strategy. 

He offers financial success, but God is our provider, and gives everything we need.

He offers worldly peace, but Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

He offers worldly joy, but that's the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

He offers worldly love, but God IS love, and He's already given us His best gift of love in the form of His Son. 

We already have it all, all that will give us abundant, joyful life. What the evil one offers is a paltry reproduction, and we're, all too often, foolish enough to discard the real to grasp the fake.

Why accept the enemy's fake when we can have God's reality?

Today, let's take a careful look at our lives. In what ways have we worshipped the evil one in order to have the things of this world? Where have we sacrificed the things of God in order to have a flashy (or convenient) fake?

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control... Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's blog: Love in the Parking Lot on a Freezing Day

For those who want to do the James study on your phone, here's the link: Lessons in Discipleship

If you'd like to participate in the James study, here's how: More than Enough: Living a Life Worth Living

If you'd like to help support this ministry, here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841

#Jesus

Living on Devil Bread

Before His public ministry began, Jesus spent forty days in a wilderness prayer retreat. Satan thought He'd be weak after that much time fasting and praying, so he arrived on the scene with a bundle of temptations in hand, all uniquely designed to stop the plan of God in its tracks.

He clearly didn't understand the power of the presence of God.

After forty days without food, everyone would be hungry. "Turn this stone into bread," the devil said. Jesus was probably ravenous, but He wasn't hungry enough to eat devil-bread. 

"Man can't live by bread alone," He told the enemy. 

What He didn't say was the rest of that verse. "Man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Deut 8:3 nasb

That's how Jesus lived. He knew what God said, and He stuck to it. In case you've wondered, that's what we're supposed to do, too. 

I'd like to say we never eat devil-bread, but when we live by anything other than what God says, that's exactly what we do. 

When we go along with the world instead of making a stand against corruption, idolatry, and sin, we're living on devil bread.

When we disobey God, as if He doesn't care what we do, we're living on devil bread.

When we love anything or anyone more than God, we're living on devil bread.

When we love ourselves more than we love our neighbor, we're living on devil bread.

That's a hard word, isn't it? But it's true, and it makes me sad. I've spent far too much time eating stony devil food instead of the manna of righteousness. We probably all have.

There's good news, though. The words of Jesus are still true. What we eat is not the most important part of life. Whose we are determines the kind of lives we live. 

"Man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Deut 8:3 nasb

The word translated as "lives" comes from two ancient root words. One means "to declare" and one "to breath." In a very real sense, when we live as God has instructed, we declare to the world the truth of our Lord by the very breath of our lives.

I want to live so in tune with God that people can spend a few minutes with me and have a glimpse of Christ. That's what Jesus-followers do. We learn from Him and incorporate those lessons into our lives. 

When people look at us, they're supposed to see Jesus in us. But do they?

Today, let's take a closer look at the things with which we feed our hearts and lives. Are we feasting on the things of God or trying to satisfy ourselves with devil-bread? If we need to make a change, let's do it. 
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's blog: The Head Markers and the Missing Sin-Grievers

For those who want to do the James study on your phone, here's the link: Lessons in Discipleship
If you'd like to participate in the James study, here's how: More than Enough: Living a Life Worth Living
If you'd like to help support this ministry, here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841

#Jesus 

Teach us to Pray, part 41: Lead us not into temptation

And He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 'Give us each day our daily bread. 'And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'" (Luke 11:2-4 NASB) 

The word translated as "lead" is eispherō and means "lead into". McArthur cautions us against thinking that God tempts us to sin. "God does not tempt us (James 1:13), but He will subject us to trials that may expose us to Satan's assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter (Luke 22:31,32). This petition expressed the believer's desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether." (MBC p 1133)

Matthew Henry explained further. "That temptations to sin should be as much dreaded and deprecated by us as ruin by sin; and it should be as much our care and prayer to get the power of sin broken in us as to get the guilt of sin removed from us." 

The very thought of sin should be so heinous to me that I would desire to avoid it at all costs. Our Lord gave a wonderful example when He taught His disciples to pray in this way. What I am saying with the words, "lead me not into temptation" is, in essence, that Satan would not be allowed to assail me in such a way, tempt me so severely, that I fail to stand firm. 

The model prayer in Matthew includes the request "but deliver us from evil" and that is the point of requesting that God not to "lead me into temptation". When temptation comes, I am to ask God to deliver me from it. 

Temptation can be appealing, tantalizing, exciting, can't it? In a very foolish way, I have not always wanted to avoid all temptation. When the temptation is severe, it is much easier to yield, and then give the enemy credit for the attack. In the words of Flip Wilson, "The devil made me do it." God, of course, is not deceived. Satan may have attacked, but I am the one who yielded. 

If I could only see Sin the way God sees it, if I could understood the horrible price that was paid and keep it in the forefront of my mind, I would not be so quickly enticed. The only solution, then, is to do what Jesus told us to do. I, we, must pray that we will not be led into temptation so great that we cannot avoid it. I must be diligent to pray for my own deliverance from evil. I must want to avoid evil, sin, wrongdoing, wrong thinking, wrong speaking.

I must remember that it is the temptation to sin, and the yielding that follows, that ultimately brings me to the consequences of sin. The price of sin is the very thing I must avoid, and that begins with avoidance at the very start. 

Join me, then, as I earnestly pray, "Lead me not into temptation." If sin will take us further than we ever meant to go, cost us more than we ever meant to pay, and keep us longer than we ever meant to stay, and it will, then let us hold firm. Let us refuse that first step on the journey of destruction and count on our Lord to help us, because He says He will. 

Battle in the Wilderness: Avoiding Opportunity (Luke 4:13, 1 Peter 5:8,9)

When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13 NASB)

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8, 9 NASB)


What a relief it must have been when the time of testing was over! How wonderful for the tempter to be through for a while! It's important to understand, however, that the devil had only taken a break from tempting "until an opportune time."  Jesus had fasted in the wilderness for forty days. From the devil's perspective, He was at a weak point, at least physically. Unfortunately for the tempter, Jesus may have been weak physically, but His spirit was strong, and He drew on the truth He had stored in His heart.

Peter tells us that the enemy of our soul "prowls about like a roaring lion" looking for easy prey to trap and defeat. The Message describes him as "ready to pounce". Times of physical weakness are certainly an opportune time for temptation. We are vulnerable to temptation when we are tired, sick, or  physically uncomfortable in some way. We are also vulnerable to the devil's temptation when we are weak spiritually. When we encounter disappointment, grief, anger, or failure, we often find ourselves snuggling up to those emotions rather than our Heavenly Father. It puts us in a terribly vulnerable spot.

If the enemy is watching for a weak moment, ready to poune on us and defeat us, how can we defend ourselves? Peter said we are to be on the alert. Pay attention and recognize those thoughts that clearly do not come from God because they are not consistent with His nature, and resist. We do not have to follow every impulse that comes our way.

We also need to be faithful to do what Jesus clearly had done. Study and memorize Scripture. He had a ready answer for every temptation because He was prepared in advance. He also paid attention to those Scriptures when the Spirit brought them to mind. It would have been easy to ignore that verse about not living by bread alone and turn the stone into a loaf of bread. Instead, when that truth came to His mind by the prompting of the Spirit, he listened and used it to His advantage.

Pray today that, at every temptation, the truth our  loved ones learned as children will come to mind. Pray too that they will listen to the prompting of the Spirit and make right choices. Pray that, in making better, wiser choices, they will be drawn back to our Lord. Pray, too, that we will be faithful to obey as well.

Battle in the Wilderness: The Pause that Refreshes (Luke 4:13)

When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13 NASB)

Forty days in the wilderness being led by the Spirit and tempted by the devil finally came to an end. A wonderful thing happened then. The tempter took a break from temptation! Of course, it wasn't a permanent halt to temptation. There was more to come, and just as hard (or harder, as evidenced by the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane), but for a while, Jesus got a break from temptation. Talk about the pause that refreshes!  

Temptations will come our way, and our loved ones will also face temptation. There will be seasons of severe temptation when, without the grace of God, we would surely succumb. Sadly, there will also be seasons of temptation when, even with the grace of God, we succumb to the sin that so easily besets us. As our heart breaks over the choices of loved ones in such trying times, take heart that even the days of temptation are finite. 

Pray today that the times of temptation will be limited, and that they will be brought to a speedy close so that our loved ones can refocus  on our Lord, regain lost faith, and find refreshment for their souls. 

Battle in the Wilderness: No Grumbling Allowed (Luke 4:12)

And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Luke 4:12 NASB)

The third and final temptation in the wilderness was to step outside the will of God to show His own importance and divert His direction from the one God had prepared for Him. The price, once again was worship of self. 

Jesus's answer was a quote from Deuteronomy 6:16 and is a reference to the events Massah. The children of Israel had traveled in stages from the wilderness of Sin and had arrived at Rephidim (Moses renamed it Massah - or test - because of the testing there). There was no water at the camp and they began to grumble (whine and complain). As usual, the people overdramatized the situation, saying that they, their children, and all the livestock were going to die of thirst. Moses thought they were about to stone him, and he cried out to God, Who instructed him to strike the rock with his staff. Moses did just that, and water flowed out. 

God had not failed to provide for the people. All they had to do was ask, and He had provided generously every time. Arguing and threatening Moses was not necessary. The multitude of Hebrews, however, were no different than we are today. They wanted what they wanted, when they wanted it, and they were not willing to wait for it. They didn't want to ask for a miracle. They wanted the miraculous to miraculously appear without having to ask for it. It was not the asking for water that was the problem. It was the WAY they asked for it - defiant, demanding, disrespectful of the One who had just delivered them from slavery. Jesus wanted no part of such behavior, for ultimately the people continued with their grumbling and demanding attitudes and it cost them dearly. Not only did most of them spend the rest of their lives in the wilderness, but also they missed the face to face encounter with God that only Moses enjoyed. It's no wonder Jesus was able to resist. 

I wonder just what my drama and exaggeration of the difficulties I've encountered have cost?  What have my grumbling and complaining cost? What have yours cost you? It is easy to see an immediate need with no immediate answer in sight and totally panic, rather than wait in faith for God's answer. It's easy to look at the poor choices of loved ones and think they will never change. The easy wilderness response to our fear and hurt is grumbling and doubt. Nevertheless,  Our response needs to be one of humility, faith, and consistent, persistent prayer. 

As we pray today, remember to thank God for the answers He has already given. Let's simply present our needs before Him today and ask that living water will flow through our loved ones as it did at the rock of Horeb. No grumbling allowed. 

Battle in the Wilderness: The Proof (Luke 4:9)

And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; (Luke 4:9 NASB)

Before going into the wilderness, Jesus had been baptized by John. You will remember that, as He came up out of the water, the Spirit of God came in the form of a dove and rested on His shoulder. The Voice of God spoke from heaven and proclaimed that Jesus was God's Son. Two parts of the Holy Trinity manifested to acknowledge the third. Jesus already knew He was the Son of God. After His baptism, the seekers  following John knew it. too. 

God Himself had, by His manifestations at the river, chosen the site and direction of Christ's ministry. He had come for the people with hearts that seek for God. He was not sent to do flashy signs and wonders at the temple. He came and encountered people where they lived and worked. He became a part of people's lives. Jesus demonstrated a personal relationship with God by His every day encounters. 

Satan, almost certainly hoping for a public debacle and speedy end to the work of redemption by Jesus's suicidal jump off the temple wall, suggested He leap off the temple.  The tempter was goading Him to prove Himself as the Son of God by a foolish act. As if the affirmation by the river had not proved Him the Son of God, or had not been impressive enough, the devil asks for another sign. "Prove it!" the devil dared Jesus. 

It's a very human response to want proof. As a physician, I want a well designed, double blinded controlled study to "prove" new theories and demonstration the effectiveness of new treatments. Knowing how easy it is to be deceived, we want to be sure, don't we? 

In the Christian life, however, faith requires that we believe without seeing. That sounds pretty radical, doesn't it? It is true, but in that believing, we have a personal relationship with a loving God who actively involves Himself in our lives. Although we don't see Him, we can certainly see Him at work in our lives. We don't "see" the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that the Spirit gives us, but we can certainly recognize them when they are there. 

Jesus knew that the work God had already done was manifestation enough. He knew that the relationship He came to personalize was enough. He knew that the work of redemption He would do on the cross would be enough. Enough. Enough has been done, and response, not more doing, is required. 

The question for us is whether or not we accept the proof that has already been given, whether or not we are enjoying the relationship that has already been offered. 

Pray today that we and our children will not require a self-devised, self-centered proof of God but will be willing to accept the proof He has already given us and will quickly recognize the peace and joy (as well as all the fruit of the Spirit) that only relationship with our Lord can bring. 

Battle in the Wilderness: Stone vs. Bread (Luke 4:3)

The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread.”  (Luke 4:3 MSG)

Jesus had just completed a forty day fast and was hungry. His days of divine solitude were coming to an end, and the Tempter was ready for the attack. Seeing His vulnerable point of hunger, he struck by tempting Jesus to turn a stone to bread. Instant gratification.

We love instant gratification, don't we? I'd have been tempted to do it, and Jesus must have been too, because these temptations were tailor-made for Him. There is a difference, however, between waiting for God's provision and trying to make a provision for yourself. Remember how well her attempt turned out for Sarah? We are still dealing with the mess between Isaac and Ishmael today.

Could Jesus turn a stone to bread? Of course. It would not have been a temptation if it were not possible. The interesting thing here is that, as God's Son, present at the foundation of the world, the Holy Trinity had spoken the stone into existence. He had created the stone, and it belonged  to Him, to do with as He would. So what is the problem here?

Jesus's ministry required absolute selflessness and the enemy was tempting Him to selfishness. The temptation was to misuse His power for selfish gain. It was a temptation to worship self rather than God the Father.

For the One coming to sacrifice Himself for a perishing world, absolute submission to the Father's will was critical. There was no room for pleasing self. His only job, His only purpose on earth was pleasing the Father. Waiting for God's timing, even in meeting the most basic of human needs, was essential.

Wow! That is one tall order. Absolute submission to God's will and total selflessness are tall orders for frail humanity. Is it possible? Yes. Is it easy? Not always.

Today, pray for the grace to wait for God's timing in every aspect of life. Pray, too, that we, and our loved ones, would be more interested in pleasing our heavenly Father than in pleasing ourselves.