What Are We To Do When the Devil Goes Fishing?
Good Morning Friends,
Recently I focused a devotional on becoming fishers of men and another on opening the door of our hearts to Jesus. And indeed it is our job as Christians to grow with Jesus and to pass on the faith. But sometimes Satan baits a hook to catch us and comes knocking at our doors. Oscar Wilde an Irish writer from the 1800’s described the point I am trying to make with these words … “I can resist anything…. but temptation.” So today we explore the temptation of Christ as he goes on a walkabout in the desert for forty days in the hopes of gleaning some strategy in the spiritual fight for our very soul. Today we ask a question about when the tables are turned. What are we to do when the devil comes knocking? What Are We To Do When the Devil Goes Fishing?
Scripture: Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NRSV)
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ‘ Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ‘ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ‘Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ‘ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Luke 4: 1-13 (NRSV)
Message: In the liturgical year we are now reading about Jesus and his 40 days of testing in the wilderness. And there is much to learn about life in this passage. It reminds me of the rite of passage that the aboriginal tribes of the South Seas have called a “walkabout.” During this time, he must test all of the survival skills he has learned. He must also be creative when he meets the unexpected. He must face solitude and silence. He must learn to be secure in an unsafe world. But walkabouts were for men and women as well as youth. So in some ways the testing in the wilderness was Jesus’ equivalent of a “walkabout”. I find it instructive that Jesus went into His “walkabout” filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and it was only when he was weak with hunger that the devil tempted him. It is not such a stretch to imagine the devil is still at work trying to keep people from fulfilling the purpose for which they were created using this same technique. And when confronted we too need to stand firm, like Jesus, in the faith using the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome attacks of temptation. The challenge is not to be taken lightly for the devil is very clever. Scripture guides us in being prepared with humility and obedience. When we are tempted to trade the truth for the power to control we are vulnerable. Thankfully we have the hope of God’s presence to give us our true rest from the struggle. Consider what God is calling you to do with the gifts He has given to you. Know that we have a purpose in Him that brings us to life. So do not underestimate the power of the call of God. Do not underestimate the devil’s desire to take your focus away from the task assigned. Learn that during life’s most challenging times we can find refuge in a relationship of obedience to Jesus. Here we find that success really is just doing it God’s way….committing ourselves to honor God. Here we find and share love with all those who share the covenant… here all actions of believers of the past and all actions of the future are present. Here we can overcome the devil when he goes fishing…when he comes knocking. Here on our walkabout in this world we can pass the test only if we walk with Jesus.
Pray that we learn scripture so well that if the devil uses it to tempt us we will respond in ways that honor God. Pray that we recognize that evil seeks only power because it has rejected love and our salvation is in knowing that God is love… Pray that we would know where to find refuge. Pray we are made stronger in the struggles we face in life. Pray we not be tempted to do it all alone. Pray we not be tempted to take the easy way or to ignore the problem. Pray we have faith to believe even though we cannot see. Pray when the devil comes knocking on our door we have the courage to let Jesus answer blocking the entrance. Pray that when the devil goes fishing we not take the bait. Pray we walk with Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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