Tempted Where You're Strong
I ain''t gonna lie... it''s been a while since I''ve had the chance to just sit with my Bible for an hour or more and really dig. Not just read to check a box, but slow down, chase cross-references, pull on a few threads, and ask, "Lord, what am I missing?"
Even though we didn''t get to bed until after 1:00 a.m., I woke up at 5:00 to shower before the girls got up - shower was freezing cold (definitely not on purpose ).
But my coffee was hot. I digress...
Sometimes God uses the strangest things to create space.
Last night at worship we were in Matthew 3, so this morning I kept reading into Matthew 4 - Jesus'' temptation in the wilderness.
Then I remembered something JHP said once...
Matthew 4 can almost make it sound like Satan showed up after Jesus had fasted for forty days.
Luke 4 says Jesus was being tempted for the entire forty days.
Forty days.
Not just three conversations at the end.
Forty days of whispers.
Forty days of pressure.
Forty days of trying to wear Him down.
For years I''ve heard sermons about how Jesus was tempted when He was lonely, tired, and hungry. That''s true. We all know what it''s like to be vulnerable in those moments.
Did you know the Spirit led Him into the wilderness???
That wasn''t an accident.
It wasn''t Satan somehow getting the upper hand.
Jesus had just been baptized. The Father declared, "This is my beloved Son." The Holy Spirit descended on Him.
And then...
The Spirit led Him into the wilderness.
Not to destroy Him.
To prepare Him.
God did lead Him into a place where His obedience would be tested while Satan tried to turn that testing into temptation.
Then I read a commentary that made me stop in my tracks.
It said Satan didn''t tempt Jesus where He was weak...
He tempted Him where He was STRONG.
I''ve honestly never heard a sermon on that.
Think about it.
Jesus actually could have turned stones into bread.
He later multiplied bread for thousands.
The temptation wasn''t whether He had the power.
The temptation was to use His power for HIMSELF instead of trusting the Father''s timing.
Jesus actually did have angels at His command.
The temptation wasn''t whether God would protect Him.
It was to force God to prove Himself through a spectacular display.
Jesus actually will inherit all the kingdoms of the world.
Satan wasn''t offering Him something impossible.
He was offering Him a shortcut.
"No cross."
"No suffering."
"No waiting."
"You can have the crown now."
SO Satan doesn''t just attack our weaknesses.
He loves to twist our strengths.
The leader becomes controlling.
The confident person becomes prideful.
The successful person becomes self-reliant.
The gifted communicator begins seeking applause instead of serving.
The generous heart starts finding identity in being needed.
The very gifts God gives us can become dangerous when we start using them apart from His purpose.
One line from the commentary really stuck with me:
Satan wanted Jesus to solve an immediate problem at the expense of His long-range mission.
Ouch.
How often do we trade God''s bigger purpose for immediate comfort?
How often do we want relief instead of refinement?
A shortcut instead of surrender?
Another thing I LOVED...
Every time Jesus answered Satan, He answered with Scripture.
Because truth was His weapon.
It reminded me that Scripture isn''t just something we''re supposed to read.
It''s something we''re supposed to memorize, know, and wield.
It''s our sword.
This morning reminded me why I love studying God''s Word.
The more I read, the more I realize there''s always another layer. Another connection. Another question that leads to seeing Jesus more clearly.
And those are my favorite mornings.