Week of April 21

It is not always the devil in the bush that should cause us worry, but the evil in our own hearts that is the concern. I have long believed that the tempter is certainly intent on scandalizing our Christian name, but he often begins by tempting us in our own areas of weakness. The good news is that temptations provide us with crucial preparation for service to the Lord. Have you ever viewed temptations in this way? Let’s learn from Christ’s example how to overcome temptation by following God’s principles.

Jesus encountered temptation right on the heels of His mountain-top experience of God’s affirmation at His baptism and sets a wonderful example for us to follow (3:16-17). We will often reach crossroads where we must decide whether to pursue God’s path or bypass His way to follow a different one. I need to clarify a troubling statement in chapter 4, verse 1, before we proceed further.
 
The Bible states that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be “tempted” by the devil. The word “tempted” means “the act of leading somebody astray.” The aim is to cause them to commit an act of wrongdoing. The Spirit did not lead Jesus to commit an act of wrongdoing, nor is God in cahoots with the devil. The Bible teaches us that God does not tempt us to do evil (James 1:13). Instead, the Spirit leads Jesus to the place of temptation, but He does not cause the temptation. We may be encouraged by this event and learn from it. There are several lessons to keep in mind.

Learn from Jesus’ example. First, Jesus, our Savior was tempted, yet without sin. His humanity is in full view, and He provides us with an example to follow (Hebrews 4:15). Secondly, we need to see that the Spirit oversees this event and not the devil. There is not some cosmic duel going on between God and the devil with an uncertain conclusion. There is absolutely no doubt that God prevails over evil (cf. Job 1:6; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Thirdly, we may learn a lesson about mountaintop spiritual experiences. They show our maturity, but they also are often followed immediately by valleys of testing (cf. 1 Kings 19:1-18; Romans 7:14-25; NAC)! We will be tempted, but this does not mean that we must fail and fall into sin. There is another point to consider.
 
Submit to the Spirit. Jesus shows us how to respond to the devil and his temptations. He was “led by the Spirit,” which is critical to gaining the victory over temptation (4:1). The Savior always relied upon God’s word in the trial (4:4). Notice that He did not whip out His Bible, so to speak, in that moment. Instead, the Savior quoted the Scriptures (4:4, 7, and 10; Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:16, and 6:13). There is much to be said about reading and memorizing the word of God! Now, let me widen our view for just a moment longer.

Jesus’ response to the tempter was based solidly upon biblical principles and teaches us a key moral lesson about how God’s world operates, and how His children follow Him. The first principle teaches us that God knows our needs and supplies what is lacking for us (cf. Matthew 6:31-33). God fed Israel in their wilderness wanderings, and He will feed you, too, so trust Him. We need to take care not to give way to the temptation to place physical needs over spiritual ones (cf. NAC; cf. Philippians 4:11-13; Matthew 6:34).

The second principle teaches us not to put God’s faithfulness to the test (cf. Psalm 91:1; NAC; EBC). In other words, we must not place ourselves in situations where we force God to act in certain ways. Sometimes our actions indicate our rebellion and not our dependence upon God (cf. Exodus 17:1-7)!

Thirdly, worship of God must be evident in our daily lives, or it is false worship (Exodus 20:1-3). The allure of power, authority, and wealth will surface again and again in Jesus’ earthly ministry, but He overcame each test and earned the victory (cf. 16:21-23). He was tempted to take an easier path than the “cross-walk.” We also must remember that earthly charms are tied to false worship (4:8-10; cf. Matthew 6:24).

Bless all who enjoy scaling great heights and capturing the wonderful pictures that we often are able to enjoy. Here’s my message: world class photographers take extra precautions to gain the perfect angle for a picture. In Ashlock speak: They know when not to risk it all for a shot that could cause them to lose it all! A search for the causes of “selfie-related” deaths each year is sobering. People die, for example, from trying to capture breath-taking photos while hanging off mountain ledges and standing on or near railroad tracks. Tragically, two children survived while their parents plummeted off a cliff to their deaths after crossing a safety barrier to capture a photo. Matthew shows us a reason why Jesus was worthy to be Messiah and Lord. He, unlike Israel’s kings, had trusted God completely in all His ways (Proverbs 3:5-6). We should follow our Leader.

1. Take time to recall a recent failure on your part. Review the principles and examples as stated above to see where you may have failed. Ask God to strengthen you for the future.
 
2. For Families: This glimpse of the life and decision-making of Jesus helps us with our children. As we build day-to-day conversations into their lives about how to walk with Jesus and develop character, good decision-making is primary. Jesus shows our kids how to choose wisely.

When our kids are faced with choosing between the good and the bad, there is always a moment when they pause to decide which path to follow. When a sibling taunts them to the point of anger, when their friends at school want to break a rule, when a neighborhood bully beats up a weaker child, or when Mom or Dad says “no” to a request, are all examples of such forks in the road.

Encourage your children to think of times like these as “Wise-Path” moments. Ask them to pause in that moment of decision-making, to ask God which direction to move, and then take the wise step. If they ask for guidance, the Holy Spirit of God will always give what is needed and show them His best path. They can trust Him.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock