Day 15 - How to Fail
Scripture focus: For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, "They're yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours." Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness." The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus' needs. Matthew 4:8-11 The Message Jesus passes the third test of the Devil. In verse eleven, Matthew reports that angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs. Do you ever think about Jesus having needs? It’s easy to forget the humanity of Jesus. But the report is this – in the place of the Devil, who departs without victory – angels take his place. Four key ingredients resulted in the successful battle against the Enemy.
- Jesus told the truth, all the time. Satan tried to trick him but with a thorough commitment to truth Jesus was able to respond appropriately. (His knowledge of scripture certainly helped.) He didn’t try to defend himself by attacking his arch rival, he simply told the truth, and used it to guide his decision-making.
- After forty days with no food and in a weakened state, Jesus could have rationalized about his situation. He could have thought – wow, this is really a bad situation; surely God wants me to provide for myself. He didn’t run from the pain, he simply waited for instructions from his Father.
- Faced with temptation, taunts and starvation Jesus could have gotten angry and decided to stick it to the man. Jesus had access to the power and he could have used it. Instead of retaliation, Jesus simply responded with information.
- I wonder if Jesus, thoroughly versed in scripture, spent some of his time thinking back to the prophets of old – things didn’t always go so well for them! Stories from the past could have haunted him, causing him to worry about his future. Instead, Jesus stayed focused and fully conscious in the present. He listened carefully to the voice of the Devil, and responded in truth.
- Don’t tell the truth – especially to yourself; blame others for all your problems.
- Expect bad news – you’ll surely find it.
- Run from your pain so that you can increase your suffering.
- Make sure you believe the world is out to get you – and be the guy who makes sure to get ‘em back!
- Focus on the past and worry about the future – a surefire way to miss the present.
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