Anyone have come up with something for the question about why God would lead His son into the desert immediately following His baptism? I couldn't.
A lot of the 'sins' that I am aware I struggle with have a root in looking to THINGS other than God to satisfy me. I get this unrest... this discontentment... this vacuum feeling inside of me from time to time. All these ideas come to me about what will make me feel better. I think, 'Ug, my house is cluttered and unattractive, I need to get it in order...' and thus begins a new obsession- the foremost thing I am thinking about. I might go on this bent where I drive Daryn crazy talking about what we can do with our house, wanting to spend $ on stuff and neglect my time with God because suddenly getting that cupboard cleaned out seems more urgent that spending time with Jesus. So, house cleaning and organization are good things, right? But, is it really a good thing when my motive for pursuing such activity is this inner-unrest that really has nothing to do with my house. Here is the more common pattern... I have a stressful afternoon, I am carrying a burden in the pit of my belly wondering how I am going to get it all done, and I go for a piece of chocolate to make me feel better. Sure, that is not my conscience thinking, but really... that is what I am hoping for when I unwrap that piece of decedent yummyness.
The afternoon following this devotion was one of those days. I recognized that feeling... that feeling that drives me to look for RELIEF, that tempting feeling... and I let that stop me in my tracks. I talked to God, "here it is... that feeling again. Please help me. Give me some truth, some direction." The scripture came to my mind, "In your presence is fullness of joy and at your righthand are pleasures forevermore," and then the song, "Your Enough." I prayed that scripture back the Lord and let that be the song of my heart. It gave me strength in the face of my temptation and I am happy to say that I felt it was a victorious afternoon. I did take a nap...but I think that was okay. I hope recognizing this pattern for sin in my life might help me in the future too. If I can start to be more in-tune and let the Holy Spirit to prompt me to stop and turn to the Lord when I just start to feel that 'vacuum' feeling.
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Wow. This one was really timely for me.
ReplyDeleteI felt like God hit the part where she said that satan's attack on Jesus was systematic, specifically aimed at His messiahship. What God spoke to me through that was that the enemy is crafty, and he will tailor our temptation to our call and identity in the Lord.
I was sitting there pondering this and the last couple of years of my life and was able to see them in light of potential temptations/strategies that I was unaware were even going on. Made for some good repentance and some clarity/awareness. The two biggest areas of struggle for me are thought life and "lesser gods." The enemy goes strategy-specific on my thought life and tempts me to believe less than what God has for me, or challenges what I THINK God has said. This happened even today!! However, I feel like the fact that God is opening my eyes to it will help me combat it, in His strength.
The other issue, the "lesser gods" are things I turn to when I want relief. I want it much like what the enemy offered when he said he would give Jesus all the kingdoms: "get relief now. get it YOUR way." Only its not motivated in love or long-term. It is rooted in wanting relief NOW. Practically, this looks like reaching for caffeine (excessively) for a pick-me-up. Or it looks like reaching to food when I am not hungry, simply because I want something that tastes good or gives me an illusion of provision & control.
Jesus, empower & deliver us! Thank you that these temptations do NOT indicate your displeasure. Thank you for your patience and grace. Thank you that you're going to keep right on giving us ways out.
Wow Danielle... great insights! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI didn't feel like I had a good answer to why God would lead Jesus into the dessert right after his baptism, but what I wondered was if it was because He was at His strongest? And I also wonder (duh) if God knew that satan's attack would be on Jesus's Messiahship. Think about it: God spoke RIGHT INTO THE VERY AREA OF HIS LIFE IN WHICH HE WOULD BE TEMPTED just days before the enemy hit it. Seems like God was providing and preparing Jesus, and that's why the timing may have been that way.
ReplyDeleteAnyone notice that Jesus was full of the h/s as he went into the wilderness? And that subsequently He was in the POWER of the h/s after being tempted?
Wow... yeah.
ReplyDeleteMy thought on the reason for wilderness after baptism was two-fold:
ReplyDelete1) It was his opportunity to be alone: God knew what had to occur for many prophesies to be fulfilled in the short span of Jesus' lifetime on earth. There were political, social, and individual human events that had to line up. This was Jesus' opportunity to be alone for a long span of time- he hadn't begun his ministry, so I'd think he wasn't being followed and didn't have his disciple posse with him. He had to be alone to be tested. He had to be tested to be relateable to us and to fulfill prophecy.
2) Jesus' notoriety had to be given time to propagate amongst people. The rumors had to get out of this young guy who has a dove alight on him at John's little spot of the river and has a voice from the heavens pronounce that he's God's son and that God's pleased with him. God chose the time when Israel was under the Roman Empire for Christ to be born because it both fulfilled prophecy and it allowed news of him to spread quickly and far. People hearing of Jesus' baptism might have had softened hearts to receive his teachings and seek him out upon his return from the wilderness.
I dunno, just my thoughts.
Loved them, thank you for sharing Danielle H.
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