Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
Jesus is baptized, receives the Holy Spirit and what happens? Immediately He is tempted for forty days! Not what one might reasonably expect!
How often are new followers of Jesus surprised to find their lives filled with more temptation? This isn’t what they expected. Shouldn’t making a decision to become a student of Jesus automatically make life easier?
According to the Teacher’s example, this isn’t the case at all. Actually, a decision to become like Jesus means the battle is on!
It means we now desire to do God’s Will, but something in our human nature is still attracted to things against the nature and will of God. Must be! Otherwise there is no real temptation.
The offer of a piece of chocolate cake isn’t tempting to one who has no desire for chocolate cake. To be tempted to do wrong there must be some attraction in it.
Isn’t it comforting to know that temptation – the appeal of evil - is not in itself a sin? Temptation is not sin. Giving in to it is!
Jesus was perfect because He never gave in. And here Luke tells us how Jesus successfully resisted all temptations.
To each temptation Jesus answered, It is written! The Teacher shows us the way. Know God’s Word and be able to speak it in such times.
And only by becoming a student of Jesus can our hearts be gradually changed to be more like His. And resist temptation more effectively.
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
That’s breathing room we can all appreciate and use to advantage!
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