Are You Confessing With Thanksgiving Your Belief In Jesus To Help You Fight Temptations?
Good Morning Friends,
Today on our Lenten journey we look at three texts. One from Deuteronomy remembering with appreciation the 40 years in the desert pilgrimage of the Hebrews. And, one from Luke on the temptation of Christ and one from Romans on confessing Christ as our Lord. There are three accounts of the Temptation of Jesus in the Bible, but the Lukan text says that Jesus in His return into the land of Israel from His baptism was led into the Judean wilderness where He went without food for forty days. So too Moses led the Hebrews in the wilderness outside the Land of Israel for 40 years. Some see Lent as a 40-day reliving of Israel’s stay in the wilderness. So too the season of Lent is supposed to remind us of the 40 days of Jesus temptation in the wilderness. Today we reflect on these three Lenten scripture selections to help us interpret, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the gift we give each other in how we profess our faith as a means of fighting the good fight against the lures of evil. Are You Confessing With Thanksgiving Your Belief In Jesus To Help You Fight Temptations?
Scripture: When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.” You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 26:4-10 (NRSV)
But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:8-13 (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: The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way we are tempted. Interestingly Mark’s rendition of the Temptation of Christ describes that Jesus was forced into the wilderness. But whether we are led or force into temptation we still need help in dealing with this problem of life. In handling temptation, it is helpful to know scripture. It served Jesus well and can serve us as well. But it is also good to look up and read and remember the twelve steps of AA for it is based in scripture and was designed to deal with the problem of temptation. The 12 steps begin with admitting we are powerless over our addictions (whatever form they may take). Admitting this brings into our consciousness what we typically selectively forget. It brings into our mind the reality that we need supernatural help. This first step helps us to get back on track. Today’s reading from Deuteronomy recounts the trials experienced in the history of the Israelite people not just to remember past oppression but the victory that God did for them and perhaps also all the grumbling and complaining as well. Here is an example that in our fight against temptation, we are called to proclaim the history of deliverance, but it is also to do so with thanksgiving in confession of Christ as our Lord. Such a confession of faith that results in gratitude is powerful. So here is the message, God brought the Hebrews to the Promised Land, but there are battles to fight and confessions to make and peace to be shared on the journey. The great news here is that the feeling of conviction that prompts us to fight the temptations of life and to confess Christ as the victorious solution is witness to the reality that even though life is not always fair that God still loves us.
And So, is we truly confess Jesus as Lord, there should be evidence of action in our lives. Our confession should drive us forward into the darkness and wilderness of this world to show the Glory of Christ to those who need Him most. Our directional focus in relationship with sin is important here. For evil spelled backwards is live. And live spelled backwards is evil. So, know your weakness regarding sin and prepare accordingly. Know that it is not just the large temptations we are to be concerned about but the small ones too. Know you cannot do the work of a disciple of Christ alone.
Pray we know a new freedom and a new happiness in Christ. Pray we not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. Pray we not only comprehend the word serenity but experience it in a way that spills over into the lives of others. Pray we have the right disposition of the heart to understand the riches found in a relationship with Jesus. Pray we handle temptation better than the Children of Israel did in the wilderness. Pray we find victory in Jesus as we confess His Lordship and bring our gifts to him in acts of courageous faith. Pray we are inspired to become better with Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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