Temptation

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
-Matthew 4:1

Observations:

1. Note that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness. The wilderness here is a difficult physical place, a desert.
2. Note that the devil tempts Jesus to sin. The Spirit does not tempt (James 1:13) but allows Jesus to be tested by Satan. Note also that temptation is not sin, and that Jesus victoriously passes the test.

Application:

1. God may at times lead us into a "wilderness" even when we are not living in purposeful sin. This is always for God's glory and ultimately for our benefit (Romans 8:28). If sinless Jesus Christ was led by God into the desert, should we be surprised if we find ourselves there?
2. We are tempted by the world, our own sinful flesh and the devil. Jesus was tempted and did not sin. So too, we can be tempted without sinning to the glory of God.

Testing.

Psalm 139:23, 24
Search me, and know my heart. Test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

A friend brought her 3 year old daughter in for me to look in her ear. She was complaining of pain, so my friend stopped in at lunch. I got out my otoscope, and we tried to get the little girl to let me take a look. Now having your inner ear looked at might hurt just slightly. But the exam is necessary to find out what is wrong and then administer appropriate treatment. Well, this three year old was having none of it. She squirmed and cried, not willing to let me stick the tip of the ear speculum into her ear's external canal. Obviously, she was afraid the exam would cause pain, and she didn't trust that I had her best interest at heart.

God examines us (1 Thessalonians 2:4,1 Chronicles 29:17, Psalm 17:3). Whether we want him to or not. Our comfort with that exam is dependent on our trust in him and our degree of faithfulness to his commands. God calls us also to examine ourselves (Galatians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Our comfort with this exam is based on our faithfullness to God and his commands and our beliefs about who God is and who he is not. We often neglect this examination, because we know we fail to meet God's standards AND are unwilling to change. But, as in Psalm 139:23,24 above, sanctification occurs if we are submitted to God, willing to change and be obedient to his direction. This maybe painful, but it brings glory to God and is ultimately to our benefit.

O that I would not squirm and fight the examination I need from my loving God; that I would not shy away from the treatment I need to mature in my walk with him.

No Pain, No Gain

I visited a family member today in the hospital. He has been having pain in his abdomen, recurrently occuring without warning every so often. It has been severe enough for him to seek medical attention, and today he underwent surgery to correct the problem. After the surgery, he was in a lot of pain and probably will have some discomfort for weeks to come. He had to accept an increase in pain over the short term through his surgery in order to alleviate his future discomfort. Sometimes God allows painful situations in our lives for our future benefit. His word says that he disciplines those he loves (Hebrews 12:6) meaning he allows or even causes painful situations in our lives in order to mold us into the image of his son (change our behavior and draw us to a closer relationship to him). Like a surgeon he cuts away the damaged and dysfuntional tissue of our flesh to make us more like him. He also uses these difficult circumstanes to "prove our faith genuine (1 Peter 1:7 )." If we believe in Jesus as our Lord and savior, and we love him and are called according to his purpose, God works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). The pain we go through now will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:7). Stand fast in the difficult times of life. They are temporary and soon God, if we remain faithful, will lift us up.