Thursday, Feb. 18 TEMPTATION
LENT 2010 “40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS”
DAILY BLOG Week 1 Thursday 2/18
Deut. 26:1-11; Ps 91:1-16; Rom 10:8b-13
LUKE 4:1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.”’
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,“He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time
40 Days and 40 Nights. A long time to be in the wilderness! If given a choice, most of us will not choose a path filled with difficulty – trials, trouble, temptation, and testing. Think about temptation. What have you been/are tempted by? Jesus wasn’t just “dropped off” in the wilderness to fend for himself. The Spirit continues to abide with him. How does the Spirit abide in your life?
The spirit gives me patience and support through difficult times.
The spirit gives me the strength I need to continue to be able to provide for my family during tough times.
With the severe budget cuts, layoffs, and everything that is going on in our schools right now I need all of the patience and strength I can muster to get through it with a smile and a positive attitude. I realize how I am is how my kids, parents, and staff will be as well. God gives me this strength and needed boost.
We recieved some bad news yesterday and after the rough last year we had the temptation to say “why me Lord? Haven’t we already been through enough” was great. Immediately after though was the realization that the spirit brought us through this last year and this new trial too shall pass. Keeping faith is the key.