Temptation Without Sin

"And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season."

Luke 4:13 (KJV)

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to go into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil.  After shattering all temptations with the word of God, Satan departed from Him for a season.  The NKJV renders this passage "...until an opportune time."  It is useful for us to know Jesus did not draw upon divine reserves or abilities born again Christians lack, for He wisely wielded the word of God to counter every temptation.  This ought to bring our hearts great comfort, that God supplies wisdom and strength to recognise and defeat all temptation to sin.

We observe the season of temptation had an end, yet opportunities for temptation would come again.  Jesus had been fasting from food for 40 days and was at a physically weak point when the devil suggested He turn stones into bread.  This shows us Satan will tempt us to sin in the area where we are currently weak.  He looks for opportunities to lead us to satisfy fleshly appetites rather than continuing to trust in God and obey His word.  Jesus understood obedience to the word of God was of greater importance than filling His stomach with food even when He was starving, for His life was in God and for God.

God had to physically become a human to experience and resist temptation, and it is not a sin to be tempted because Jesus remained without sin.  Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."  Jesus experienced the same temptations we do, yet He was able to remain pure, holy and righteous.  It was required under the Law of Moses for people who had sinned to bring their sacrifice before the high priest and confess their sins, and when we believe on Jesus as Saviour He understands perfectly the lure of temptation as well has how we have chosen sin over obedience to God.

Because we have a great High Priest who understands our struggles in seasons of sins, the context of Hebrews 4:16 shines bright with loving acceptance for the humble sinner:  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  The human body needs food, and we sinners need forgiveness and strength to resist the temptation to sin.  We are powerless in ourselves to keep resisting a single temptation, but thanks be to God who has overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God given to us.  Jesus Christ has given Himself to us by shedding His own blood on Calvary, and now we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Let our confidence not be in our ability or wits to avoid temptation but in Jesus Christ Who has overcome all temptation and sin that easily besets us.

Longsuffering Salvation

Faith in Jesus Christ ought to impact the outlook of Christians.  Though we trust in Jesus for eternal salvation, it does not follow we are trusting Him for the timing of the events of today.  We know God has created this earth and established the precise motion of the heavenly bodies and earth, yet unexpected traffic when running a couple minutes late can send us into a panic or frustration.  The seconds ticking away distract us from the God who dwells outside time and is never overwhelmed.

Since my early Christian days, I have heard many believers in moments of struggle or who look at "how bad" things in the world are, wonder along with the psalmist:  "LORD, how long?"  Those who look forward to a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells can be troubled by what they see on earth that provides no glimmer of hope.  Allow the words of Peter to give us some clarity if we echo this fervent cry for deliverance in 2 Peter 3:14-15:  "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you..."

While our LORD tarries, it is good to reminded the "longsuffering of our LORD is salvation."  Aren't you glad God is so patient and longsuffering that despite the wickedness in the world, He waited long enough for you and others to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Saviour?  For a long time we were apart from God, under condemnation and damnation, but in receiving the Gospel we are assured of eternal life and fellowship with God forever.  Every day that passes means many more people will hear and respond by faith to the good news of the Gospel.  Because no one can snatch us out of the hand of God who keeps us, we are safely kept and redeemed by God's grace for His glory.

There may be people who walk away from God for a season or permanently, but God ought not to blamed for apostate souls who have willfully divorced themselves from His saving grace freely offered to all.  I am and will be eternally grateful for the longsuffering nature of God, not only because I have benefitted greatly from it, but for all who will receive and know His goodness.  Let us be patient even if our suffering is long, for God has given us an example so we might follow in His steps.  As we look to Jesus we ought to be diligent to be found in peace, without spot and blameless.  Love suffers long and is kind, and may we retain the sweetness of God's grace when we could naturally be made bitter.

A More Sure Word of Prophecy

Awhile back I had a conversation with people about ways the living God speaks with us.  One fellow mentioned his wife was apt to hear God's voice in an audible manner.  Although this has not been my experience, there is much biblical precedence for hearing the voice of God audibly speaking to people.  At the same time, there is no need for believers to feel "left out" if they cannot say they have heard God speaking audibly with them, and we have this on strong scriptural authority.

When the apostle Peter went with Jesus and other select disciples and witnessed the transfiguration of Christ in shining glory, they all heard God speak audibly.  Peter, overwhelmed by seeing Jesus in glory as He conversed with Moses and Elijah, started to suggest they build three tabernacles when God the Father interrupted Peter and said, "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."  After Peter related this incident in his second epistle to believers, he went on to say this in the King James Version of 2 Peter 1:19-21:  "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."  This rendering emphases the supreme reliability of God's word in the Bible, for Peter's experience confirmed what the prophets had spoken previously.

The Bible we hold in our hands is a more sure and reliable revelation of God and His word than a voice that booms from the heavens.  The Bible is the divinely inspired, verified, genuine word of God no one can add or take away from.  Anyone can claim they have heard God's voice and the accuracy of their claim depends on a person who can be mistaken, how long ago the event transpired, how tired they were, words subject to interpretation that could possibly be misunderstood.  Based on the biblical revelation of the God who does not change, we know when God speaks He will support and not contradict anything He has previously said.  Peter affirmed the scripture and prophecies therein are not of private interpretation or the will of man (which dreams, visions and voices can be) but were provided through men of God guided to speak by the Holy Spirit.  Our hearing can be muffled and our eyes bleary, but God has spoken clearly and accurately to all people in His word we ought to treasure and heed.

The voice of God speaking during the transfiguration hearkened back to what the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet in Isaiah 42:1:  "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles."  Jesus is the Word that become flesh, and the psalmist wrote what Jesus fulfilled in a literal sense when shone with glory brighter than the sun in Psalm 119:105:  "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Through Jesus God caused the great light to shine in darkness, and by faith in Jesus the scriptures are opened to us in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit Who authored them.  All God speaks in an audible voice will confirm and align with what He has already spoken.  Praise the LORD He does not only speak to a select few, but has spoken to all and continues to speak by His grace for our good.

The Fruit of Sorrow and Faith

The book of 1 Samuel begins with a heartbreaking passage of the conflict between rival wives of Elkanah  named Peninnah and Hannah.  Peninnah had sons and daughters, but the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, and as a consequence she was childless.  Peninnah was an hateful adversary to Hannah, who provoked and needled her over her barrenness, and it broke Hannah's heart.  Elkanah loved Hannah very much and supplied her a double portion to show how much he cared for her.  Yet Hannah was so grieved over the provocation she could not bring herself to eat anything.  1 Samuel 1:8 reads, "Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"  Rather than lamenting what she did not have, Elkanah begged his wife to find comfort in his love and provision.

There is no question Elkanah was good to Hannah, and he used a phrase similar to that employed in the previous book of Ruth.  When Ruth gave birth to a son by Boaz, she provided Naomi an heir who would receive the family inheritance.   Ruth 4:14-15 says, "Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! ¹⁵ And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."  Ruth was a caring, supportive and obedient daughter-in-law who loved Naomi and the LORD God of Israel.  Before they were wed, Boaz affirmed Ruth was known to all those in Bethlehem to be a virtuous woman.  In saying Ruth was a  better daughter-in-law than seven sons, the point was Ruth ought to be treasured by Naomi more than a means to a grandson (or 7 of them!), and Elkanah was a greater blessing to Hannah than any sons he could supply.

The sad story takes a lovely turn when Hannah, in deep grief and sorrow, poured out her heart to the LORD in prayer at the tabernacle.  She begged God to give her conception and promised if God gave her a son she would dedicate him wholly to the LORD's service in the tabernacle.  God did not ignore the cry or tears of Hannah who sought Him:  God Who provided a loving husband in Elkanah also provided a son according to her request without reproach.  God did not chastise Hannah for the desires of her heart, for ingratitude or lack of contentment, as she boldly poured out her soul before the LORD Who was her refuge and giver of all good things.  I am blessed by Hannah's example, that she did not stuff her sorrow away or suffer in silence and neglect coming before the LORD.  Her season of provocation, pain and barrenness resulted in the birth of a son who would grow up to be the prophet and judge Samuel whose name means, "God has heard."  The birth of the child and his life of blessing to the nation was a testimony of the living God who hears and answers prayer--borne out of sorrow by faith in God.

Hannah prayed fervently for a son, and she made good on her promise to the LORD to dedicate him wholly to the LORD.  God did for Hannah more than she asked for as 1 Samuel 2:21 states, "And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD."  See the fruit God causes to grow through sorrow of soul for those who seek and trust in Him!  Hannah shed many tears over the provocations of Peninnah, yet it was after she sought the LORD help and hope was provided by Him.  God did not begrudge Hannah for the desires of her heart and her request to bear a son, and He does not reproach any of His children who approach Him needy, helpless and fruitless to seek His favour.  God is better to us than a spouse or all the sons or daughters in the world, and let us rejoice and worship our LORD with gladness today--as if we have already received infinitely more than we asked for!