"When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came." Luke 1:13
"And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13
As we read the verse in Luke last night at home church (aka Bible study), I was struck by the understanding that Jesus was going to face the devil again. The Garden of Gethsemane was an epic battlefield as Jesus came to accept his fate on the cross. There may be more verses which document the ongoing battle between Jesus and the devil but they aren't coming to mind.
I have to wonder if all the documented times Jesus' left the disciples to be alone with God was to overcome temptation. There was always a miracle following his absence.
Lord, where is this going?
Temptation isn't just about desiring forbidden fruit. Temptation is far sneakier. Temptation is the sire of the Yahbut. Temptation's other offspring are distractions, reasoning, and justification.
The devil will use anyone and anything to divert us from our calling. The temptation is to believe what the devil is saying.
When we overcome temptation, we defeat evil.
Guaranteed, he will try a different path.
When we overcome temptation, we defeat him again.
Anything that would lead us away from spending time with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father is letting temptation win.
And it's not always obvious stuff like chocolate. (Smile.)
The temptation might be to agree with the lies stopping us from moving forward in faith and trust.
The temptation might be to let life's experiences dictate not only our present but our futures.
Temptation is what stopped me from ordering business cards for the blog. The lie that clearly stated giving out cards is a sign of pride stopped me in my tracks. I was tempted by not wanting to appear arrogant.
It's not prideful, by the way. (That particular battle has been won because of gratitude.)
Forgive me, Father, for allowing temptation to do this.
A long time ago during a nighttime flight, I looked down at the tiny lights illuminating the roads and cities. I remember thinking, that's what being a Christian is. There's an interconnectivity reaching far beyond our own small light.
Do you remember the old Christmas lights where if one bulb went out, the whole strand did?
God has infused each one of us with gifts, a light uniquely ours. When we allow temptation to stop us exercising those gifts...it is to the detriment of the whole body of Christ. Yes, the whole body.
I took the painting, posted a couple of days ago, to home church last night. (This was a first for me, sharing the art with 3D people except for a very few close friends.) With the leader's permission, I shared how it had been created and what it represented.
Temptation is wanting to stay inside our comfort zone.
What difference would it have made had I not shared?
I don't know.
But it did make a difference! (Smile.) It allowed others to envision the unseen and probably more as the painting was handed around but that's between them and God.
And I am okay with that.
My joy, after all, was in the creating. Knowing all is above my pay grade.
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