The Lovely Joanne, in her systems-auditing business, sometimes visits client companies that have very complex manufacturing processes. Sometimes she hires
Showing posts with label temptation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label temptation. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Jesus' Temptations: Patience
Continuing to look at the temptations of Jesus in Luke 4, we see the second temptation as Luke recorded it was an offer from Satan for all the kingdoms of the world, if Jesus would worship him. At first, that sounds a little hollow -- didn't Satan know who he was talking to? That would be like trying to offer Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, a chance to throw the ball around a little with the Rockies if he would resign his position. C'mon, are you serious? But apparently the devil was. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”
Jesus didn't dispute Satan's claim to rulership of the world, but he didn't agree either. He didn't try to argue about who was in charge, or even assert his divine authority (as the Son of God) over Satan. He simply bypassed the claim and responded by quoting Deut. 6:16 “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”
Jesus had perfect faith in the Father. His loyalty was not wishy-washy. He kept his focus on his mission, relying completely on the Father's plan. Luke records the risen Lord saying in 24:26 “Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” He knew that his calling required his death, and there was no shortcut. And by rejecting Satan in all these temptations, he responded as the perfect human, the obedient second Adam (Rom. 5:12-19).
So what lessons could we gain from this temptation? First, of course, to have faith in God. (Our faith isn't perfect, of course; it wavers and is stronger some days than others. But Jesus' faith was perfect, and we can trust in the Father through him; we don't have to worry if we will succeed, since we know he succeeded!) Second, to be patient, which means knowing we are with Jesus on a journey of faith leading to maturity -- it can't be hurried but has to be taken one step at a time. And maybe, for the Bonus Round, recognizing that Jesus wasn't worried about being in charge, so maybe we shouldn't either.
Are you being tempted, or feeling impatient? Maybe it's time to stop and reflect on the perfect response of Jesus: to worship and serve only God, and rest secure in the knowledge that God has the future worked out.
Jesus didn't dispute Satan's claim to rulership of the world, but he didn't agree either. He didn't try to argue about who was in charge, or even assert his divine authority (as the Son of God) over Satan. He simply bypassed the claim and responded by quoting Deut. 6:16 “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”
Jesus had perfect faith in the Father. His loyalty was not wishy-washy. He kept his focus on his mission, relying completely on the Father's plan. Luke records the risen Lord saying in 24:26 “Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” He knew that his calling required his death, and there was no shortcut. And by rejecting Satan in all these temptations, he responded as the perfect human, the obedient second Adam (Rom. 5:12-19).
So what lessons could we gain from this temptation? First, of course, to have faith in God. (Our faith isn't perfect, of course; it wavers and is stronger some days than others. But Jesus' faith was perfect, and we can trust in the Father through him; we don't have to worry if we will succeed, since we know he succeeded!) Second, to be patient, which means knowing we are with Jesus on a journey of faith leading to maturity -- it can't be hurried but has to be taken one step at a time. And maybe, for the Bonus Round, recognizing that Jesus wasn't worried about being in charge, so maybe we shouldn't either.
Are you being tempted, or feeling impatient? Maybe it's time to stop and reflect on the perfect response of Jesus: to worship and serve only God, and rest secure in the knowledge that God has the future worked out.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Jesus' Temptations: Bread
For 40 long days -- almost six weeks -- Jesus was alone in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by the devil. There are three temptations listed in Luke 4:1-13 (and in a slightly different order, the same three in Matthew 4) but the text doesn't say these are the only three temptations Satan threw at him, just that these three are recorded for us. There are many important meanings in this story; here are a few.
Forty days is probably a parallel to Moses' 40 days on the mountain fasting in God's presence (Deut. 9:9) and to Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. For this time, Jesus was alone with no distractions from other people, alone in the presence of the Father and the Holy Spirit. As he fasted, he was tempted by Satan, and came to the point of extreme hunger (v. 2). Then Satan tempted him with the idea of making food for himself. What was the big deal about that?
As a human, Jesus had experienced hunger before; but as the Son of God in the flesh, he showed several major truths by turning down this temptation.
1. Jesus knew his mission on earth was to serve us, not himself; but Satan tempted him to rely on his power as God for his own needs. In his ministry on earth, Jesus ministered in the power of the Spirit, doing the will of the Father and using his power as the Son of God many times -- but never for himself (compare for instance Matthew 26:53). Here, Jesus taught selflessness.
2. He trusted God to provide for him. Eve, and Adam with her, were convinced by the serpent that God was holding out on them and they deserved more. Israel in the wilderness, though being fed by God with miraculous manna, complained about it andwanted something 'better' -- part of their pattern of disbelief ( Numbers 11, for instance). Jesus went through a more severe test -- no food at all -- and continued to trust that God would provide.
3. Jesus was empty of food, yet filled with the Spirit. By contrast, Israel "celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry" in worship of the golden calf.
4. Jesus showed by his choices that he was who his Father described at his baptism in Luke 3:22 -- “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Notice, this description is before the temptation, not as a result of his success in it.
Jesus responded to Satan with the verse from Deut. 8:3, "people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." That verse is a summary of Israel's entire wilderness experience, and in a way, Jesus' wilderness experience too. He said that, not to command us to memorize Bible verses, but to say we must rely totally on God's provision for us -- 'hanging on to every word' as it were, for our daily life.
Fasting from something -- food and water, or just food, or from one thing we enjoy -- is a way to recognize how much we depend on God to give us life itself. And when we lack something we think we must have, isn't that the most important time to decide that God, who has given us victory through Jesus Christ, will certainly provide everything else we truly need?
Forty days is probably a parallel to Moses' 40 days on the mountain fasting in God's presence (Deut. 9:9) and to Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. For this time, Jesus was alone with no distractions from other people, alone in the presence of the Father and the Holy Spirit. As he fasted, he was tempted by Satan, and came to the point of extreme hunger (v. 2). Then Satan tempted him with the idea of making food for himself. What was the big deal about that?
As a human, Jesus had experienced hunger before; but as the Son of God in the flesh, he showed several major truths by turning down this temptation.
1. Jesus knew his mission on earth was to serve us, not himself; but Satan tempted him to rely on his power as God for his own needs. In his ministry on earth, Jesus ministered in the power of the Spirit, doing the will of the Father and using his power as the Son of God many times -- but never for himself (compare for instance Matthew 26:53). Here, Jesus taught selflessness.
2. He trusted God to provide for him. Eve, and Adam with her, were convinced by the serpent that God was holding out on them and they deserved more. Israel in the wilderness, though being fed by God with miraculous manna, complained about it andwanted something 'better' -- part of their pattern of disbelief ( Numbers 11, for instance). Jesus went through a more severe test -- no food at all -- and continued to trust that God would provide.
3. Jesus was empty of food, yet filled with the Spirit. By contrast, Israel "celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry" in worship of the golden calf.
4. Jesus showed by his choices that he was who his Father described at his baptism in Luke 3:22 -- “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Notice, this description is before the temptation, not as a result of his success in it.
Jesus responded to Satan with the verse from Deut. 8:3, "people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." That verse is a summary of Israel's entire wilderness experience, and in a way, Jesus' wilderness experience too. He said that, not to command us to memorize Bible verses, but to say we must rely totally on God's provision for us -- 'hanging on to every word' as it were, for our daily life.
Fasting from something -- food and water, or just food, or from one thing we enjoy -- is a way to recognize how much we depend on God to give us life itself. And when we lack something we think we must have, isn't that the most important time to decide that God, who has given us victory through Jesus Christ, will certainly provide everything else we truly need?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Half a Cup of Jesus
I'd like half a cup of Jesus, please. Only half a cup.
That's just enough to wash away my sins and give me life.
Just enough to let me sleep at night and figure I'm all right.
Half a cup is about right for what I think I need.
Just enough for heaven later, but not enough to challenge me,
Not enough to slow me down or puncture my self-will.
I like Jesus to be my friend and helper and give me what I need,
Perhaps that health-and-wealth idea and maybe whiter teeth.
It's handy thinking he loves me and gives me life forever,
I just don't want to think about him interfering with life now.
If I had more of Jesus I'm afraid my life would change,
I might have to give up habits that are so comforting to me,
And be more generous and kind, and maybe forgive my spouse.
I'd have to read my Bible, or volunteer at church,
Or try to help the homeless or the poor out of the lurch.
If I had more than half a cup of Jesus, I'm afraid
I might be pressed to talk to friends about my faith.
I might be tempted to go on mission trips or even across town
And give up my vacation to build a house for someone else.
I might have to stop watching some TV, or stop my drinking then,
Or speak more kindly to my spouse or help the neighbor kids.
No, half a cup is just the thing -- half a cup, no more.
I don't want people thinking I'm one of those Jesus freaks
That actually believes he loves my neighbor, and so should I.
I might get funny looks or lose my reputation
By telling people Jesus died to save them, and every nation.
Half a cup of Jesus is all that I can manage.
In fact a quarter-cup might be more like it; do you want the rest of mine?
That's just enough to wash away my sins and give me life.
Just enough to let me sleep at night and figure I'm all right.
Half a cup is about right for what I think I need.
Just enough for heaven later, but not enough to challenge me,
Not enough to slow me down or puncture my self-will.
I like Jesus to be my friend and helper and give me what I need,
Perhaps that health-and-wealth idea and maybe whiter teeth.
It's handy thinking he loves me and gives me life forever,
I just don't want to think about him interfering with life now.
If I had more of Jesus I'm afraid my life would change,
I might have to give up habits that are so comforting to me,
And be more generous and kind, and maybe forgive my spouse.
I'd have to read my Bible, or volunteer at church,
Or try to help the homeless or the poor out of the lurch.
If I had more than half a cup of Jesus, I'm afraid
I might be pressed to talk to friends about my faith.
I might be tempted to go on mission trips or even across town
And give up my vacation to build a house for someone else.
I might have to stop watching some TV, or stop my drinking then,
Or speak more kindly to my spouse or help the neighbor kids.
No, half a cup is just the thing -- half a cup, no more.
I don't want people thinking I'm one of those Jesus freaks
That actually believes he loves my neighbor, and so should I.
I might get funny looks or lose my reputation
By telling people Jesus died to save them, and every nation.
Half a cup of Jesus is all that I can manage.
In fact a quarter-cup might be more like it; do you want the rest of mine?
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