Read Luke 4:1-13
It’s New Years Eve. Tonight there’ll be partying and celebrating to see out the old and welcome in the new. People will, no doubt, drink themselves silly and gorge themselves on food. Each one of us will probably be tempted today/tonight to eat too much, to drink too much or to do/say things that displease God. We may be tempted to make exaggerated promises for the new year - promises that we never intend to keep. We may be tempted to act in stupid ways to please the crowd or to win favour with a member of the opposite sex. We may be tempted to egg others on to do similarly stupid things.
But be assured that Jesus is no stranger to temptation. After fasting for 40 days in the desert Jesus was tired, dehydrated and very, very hungry. The devil, often called the tempter, came to Him and tempted Him to turn stones into bread. It wasn’t just the physical need that was tempted. Satan started the temptation with words that attacked the very core of Jesus’ identity, ‘If you are the Son of God…’. Jesus could use His power for His own benefit to prove His identity, or He could deny His identity and starve to death. Either choice would entail sin against God. The devil thought he had Jesus caught between a rock and a hard place. Jesus, however, quoted the Word of God and stood by that Word as His final authority. He did the same in the second and third temptations.
When you are tempted, will you respond with the Word of God as your ultimate and final authority? Will you speak out the Word at the tempter and give him no room to play with your heart, mind and emotions?
Hebrews 4:15-16 assures us that we can go to Jesus, the Living Word, in our hour of temptation and need.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
When Jesus came into our world it began the end of temptation and sin. It began the growth of holiness and righteousness in all who would believe in Him. The coming of Jesus into our world dealt the death blow to temptation. That’s why we need Christ in Christmas.
Thank you for journeying with us throughout 2014 as we have studied God’s Word and sought to grow to be more like Him. We have seen how Scripture corrects some of the lies that we believe. We have seen God’s incredible mercy through the Gospel and how we are to respond as His people in Romans. And we have seen why we need Christ in Christmas and all the incredible things that Christ brings His people through the book of Colossians.
We pray that, along with us, you have grown over this year of studying God’s word. We pray that He has worked powerfully in your heart and mind to change you to be more like Him and that you have been challenged to share your life changing faith with all who will hear.
ChristLife Presbyterian Church's Daily Bible Reading Notes will return in February 2015 as we answer the question: Where Do I Fit?
For your spiritual nourishment during this time we recommend that you maintain a habit of regular Bible study and prayer. To assist with this you can source other devotional materials including Our Daily Bread which can be found at http://odb.org. An extensive back-catalogue of the ChristLife Presbyterian Church Daily Bible Reading Notes is also available at http://christlifedailybible.blogspot.com.au/
We pray that you will have a truly blessed New Year as you grow in relationship with our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
God’s richest blessings,
The ChristLife Office Team
Pastor Esa Hukkinen, Minister
Jane Walker, Children’s Coordinator
Brad Dewson, Youth Ministry Worker
Josh Rowe, MTN Trainee
Lois Ward, Administration Officer
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