I noted in the prior reflection the challenge that when you zero in on one aspect of Scripture, you inevitably limit the text.
Therefore, one reflection earlier I sought to highlight how Jesus’ baptism and temptation reveal him as the coming Messiah.
I now turn to what we might learn from Jesus.
Too often we allow his divinity to dilute the dramatic and powerful acts Jesus, as a human, did during his life.
I once heard Rick Warren break Jesus’ temptations into three core temptations. He noted that Satan doesn’t have anything new. He uses these three over-and-over each day. Jesus shows us the antidotes.
Before we get into those specifics, two points.
1. Temptation builds spiritual muscle. Muscle you and I need. Jesus’ baptism is an emotional high. When we came to know Jesus, when the scales fell from our eyes, we experienced an emotional and spiritual high. The problem is that you and I (and Jesus) cannot live life on emotions.
2. Satan wants to use temptation to steal us from God’s Family. Consider how Matthew began this Gospel. He goes to great pains to show how Jesus is part of God’s long plan to save us. He does this by starting with the family tree. You have to fight for our family. People are always seeking to destroy it—sometimes from within.
Satan, through temptation, either seeks to get you to bow to him—to join his clan of those who rebel against God OR he tosses you to-and-fro making you feel like you are not really part of the family, tormenting you.
Now, onto these three, repeating common, temptations.
1. The Lust of the Flesh: tempting us with what we feel. We each are given passion and feeling. Satan twists and amplifies them. We so often think of the lust of the flesh along sexual lines. But we can lust after so much more.
Consider how hungry Jesus was after fasting for 40 days.
2. The Lust of Pride of Life: tempting us “to be” someone. We each seek to find our place in life. Satan tempts us with an unhealthy desire for position, status—thinking we somehow on our own achieve it.
Consider how Jesus was offered to show himself the Son of God if he threw himself off the pinnacle.
3. The Lust of the Eyes: tempting us to want more. We all have natural desires for possessions. But again, Satan tempts us with an unhealthy desire.
Consider how Jesus was offered all the kingdoms of the world, if only he would bow.
Note, you will be tempted! Each day, the temptations we face will in the end, fall into one of these three categories.
What can we do? Two Steps
Step One: Learn the antidote.
1. Lust of the Flesh || Antidote: Integrity
2. Pride of Life || Antidote: Humility
3. Lust of the Eyes || Antidote: Generosity
Step Two: Build Muscle
1. Face into the temptation
2. Address it with the Word of God
3. When you do this over-and-over, it is like lifting a weight, repetitively.
How do you process temptation?