Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Nehemiah 4
NT: Luke 4
W&W: Psalm 44
Today’s Reflection:
In Luke’s account of Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness (Luke 4.1-13) something jumped out at me from verse 2: “where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” That was “new” to me. I don’t know why I’ve missed it all these years, but I have usually pictured the fasting and temptation differently from this description. I have thought more along the lines of Jesus fasting and then at the end of the fast the devil coming to him to tempt him (as seen in the second part of verse 2 and beginning of verse 3: “at the end of them [the forty days] he was hungry. The devil said to him…”)
But, the first part of verse 2 makes it clear that during the entire time of fasting the devil was tempting our Savior: “for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” I think we can safely assume that the temptations summarized in vv. 3-13 had been at least a part of the temptations Jesus faced in the preceding 40 days.
As I considered all this, I thought of how many of you are in the wilderness and may be fasting even now. In the wilderness there are temptations. You have entered an unseen battlefield for the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is a warfare that is taking place in high places, at spiritual levels. I again tell you, do not be surprised at any temptations that the devil will throw at you. I don’t know what they might be, but I do know that they are coming – as part of your spiritual warfare.
Let me share with you what I saw in the temptations of Jesus as recorded in my biblical journal. I hope it is of help to you in those times you are engaged in spiritual battles.
Jesus was tempted by the devil to take shortcuts. He refused to take the shortcuts:
· Bread (the first temptation) is to be earned by hard work.
· Influence (the second temptation) is to be gained by integrity and humility.
· Results (the third temptation) are achieved by faithfully trusting in God’s plan.
The devil will tempt you and me to take shortcuts also. But we must stay true.
There is no shortcut to hard work:
· Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into the harvest…
· “Prayer is the work…” (Oswald Chambers)
· Labor in prayer…
· Zion will not bring forth children until she travails as in labor…
· We worked night and day, laboring and toiling…
· They have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it…
There is no short cut to integrity and humility:
· Worship God
· Be true to yourself
There is no short cut to God’s plan:
· Stay in step with the Savior
· Do not test God presumptuously – especially in times of spiritual endeavors such as fasting
· Wait on God to work, then join him in the battle for souls
· We must point to Jesus, not our work
Be encouraged and strengthened in the battle! The impact of your fasting will be seen for years to come – even generations!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Isaiah 53.4-5: Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
About Me
- Pastor Scott
- I've been married to my wife, Lana, for nearly 40 years. She is the love of my life and still makes my heart beat fast! We have three beautiful daughters and accompanying handsome husbands. They are spread across the eastern part of the United States. We also have 4 precious granddaughters, a grandson and another little fella one on the way! I am blessed way beyond what I deserve. I have been a follower of Jesus Christ since I was fourteen years old. (Suffice it to say that that is a lot of years!) I have been a pastor since I was 32, embarking on my second career and my life's calling after I had been working in industry for ten years after college. In 2018 I retired from active pastoring and refocused my ministry to writing, speaking, coaching, and being a spiritual friend. I have formed a non-profit corporation called Momentum Ministries to help me fulfill my life's calling.
4 comments:
I've never thought of fasting as a "long-term" type investment, Dad. Which is strange, because of course, as you pointed out, it is! We should be fasting to align ourselves more closely to what God wants for us, and he has not only our whole futures planned for us, but those of our kids, grandkids, etc, etc.
I like your point about Jesus refusing to take shortcuts to get results. So many times we're tempted to "do it our own way" because we feel like God's taking too much time. The devil tries to convince us that he has forgotten about us or doesn't care about our issues, which are admittedly incredibly small in the "God-scheme" of things. But he does care about us, everything in our lives concerns Him! He knows every hair on our heads, we are his beloved children. We should patiently wait on His answers (you know all about this, don't you!?)
Jesus, when entering into his ministry, fasted to prepare himself for the rigours and temptations that lay ahead. His fasting was a long-term investment in that it paid off through his sacrifice and obedience for us.
I wonder if I am asking God for a shortcut now concerning our move? Any thoughts out there about that? I really only want to load once, but what does God want? Mom and I are ready to do whatever it is!
I think there's a fine line between asking God for a "shortcut" and asking Him for something IF it's His will! You have to mean that last part! And I know you do... you'd load the moving truck 100 times over again if you knew the Lord wanted you to! Be inspired by Noah... he knew that everyone around him thought he was crazy, and it took him what, 100 years to build the ark? He probably questioned God and maybe even prayed for a release from the work, but in the end wanted nothing more than to obey God. And I'd say he and his family were thoroughly blessed for their faith and obedience!!!
Thanks Eric and Jenny. I really do want God's will for his glory. I also want what's best for Mom.
Noah is a good example that I hadn't thought of before in this situation. I was moved by 1 John 5.14-15 in my morning meditation:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.
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