Prepared for serving our Father

If I wrote a short story on the life of my father, what might my focus be? He was a dad, husband, farmer, good neighbor, had a sense of humor, could fix almost anything, didn’t like laziness and struggled with retirement. A short story cannot begin to cover a lifetime, only parts of it.

John wrote that if all were told about the life of Jesus Christ, the world could not hold the books. He and the other Gospel writers had to squeeze the three years of Christ’s ministry into a short story. Matthew focuses on Jesus as the King of the Jews, the Lion of Judah. Mark focused on His servitude. Luke spotlighted this Messiah as “the Son of Man” who was perfect in obedience to His heavenly Father, carrying on a full ministry among the people. His story was in Palestine but in both of his letters, Luke pointed to the extension of that ministry to the regions beyond.

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46–47, italics mine)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, italics mine)

The New Testament survey that I am reading outlines Luke according to Jesus’ ministry as the Son of Man. It begins with the author’s purpose for writing:

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1–4)

Luke was a physician. He writes like a friend of ours, also a doctor, with the same attention to detail and desire to put things in order. This book outlines the rest of Luke’s ‘short story’ of the life of Christ in an orderly fashion as well:

The preparation of the Son of Man (Luke 1:5–4:13)

The Galilean ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 4:14–9:50)

The Perean ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 9:51–18:30)

The Jerusalem ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 18:31–21:38)

The passion ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 22:1–23:56)

The resurrection ministry of the Son of Man (Luke 24:1–53)

The preparation section covers Jesus’ birth and one incident from His childhood. Luke also includes his genealogy through Mary back to Adam, His baptism and tells of His temptation in the wilderness.

Just recently, one of the pastors in our church told us of some of his preparation for ministry. He was about to transition to the role of lead pastor and was excited yet remember all that God had done thus far in his life. He was born into a good family and had been obedient to God. However, he had also been tested and the trial he shared with us was definitely part of his preparation for this role.

Jesus, God in human flesh, may not have been in danger of falling into sin (the debate goes on — could He have sinned?) but the temptations were strong and real. In terms of preparation, they posed the questions: Would He rely on God for all needs? Would He trust His Father in every way, not doubting or testing His care no matter the circumstances? Would He worship and serve His Father alone and not be side-tracked by any other ambitions?

As I read this again, I realize that ministry to and for the Lord and to others is about total allegiance to my heavenly Father. Like Jesus, I am also tested.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, do I rely on You for all my needs? Not always. Do I ever doubt You? Sometimes. Do I get side-tracked? Often. This is why I need the grace and salvation that You provide. Without You, no one can pass the tests.

Temptation

Today’s devotional tells me that there is no sin in being tempted. Sin happens when I yield to temptation. I’m very glad this is true, particularly because yesterday’s temptation nearly tipped me over.

Someone accused me of something that was a total figment of their imagination. My first thought was that I must defend myself. My next thought was retaliation. Then I decided to make sure there was no shred of truth to the accusation. After prayer and listening for a word from the Lord, my conscience was clear. Not long after that, my blood pressure started to rise again.

Earlier in the day, our ladies’ Bible study group discussed the idea of sin being like tipping over. Someone said that she’d experienced situations where the temptation was strong, but the desire to fight it was also powerful. In that battle, she felt like she was on tilt. We joked a bit, even using words like feeling “tipsy” to describe this very serious struggle. After that accusation happened, this word picture jumped back to mind and helped me remember that I must stay upright.

Sometimes temptation hits without warning and I dismiss it. Sometimes I give in before realizing that it was pulling on me. This time I felt the pull, but I also felt the power of God as I prayed for grace to stand. Several minutes passed where it seemed I was standing on one leg. However, the Holy Spirit came alongside to help me. Soon the desire to strike back changed to compassion and the Lord gave me a deep concern for my accuser’s spiritual well-being.

This does not happen every time. Sometimes, as I already said, I am blind-sided and tip over before I realize what hit me. Sometimes the temptation is more appealing to me than being like Jesus, so I make a choice and give in. Yet I am aware that this is not what God wants or provides. He says . . .  

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

This verse first lets me know that I am not alone in my temptations. Everyone struggles with them. However, God knows my heart and what tests I can pass. He also provides a way to stand, to escape the temptation. This way is not firm resolve nor even trying harder. Nothing of my own efforts will rescue me. Only Jesus can do that. 

Therefore (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17–18)

Jesus walked this way before I did. He knows all about false accusations. Mockers accused Him then and they still say shameful lies about Him. In all of that, He remains sinless. Because He lives in me, I can rely on Him to help me. I do not need to give into temptation. Even though the enemy of my soul wants me to disobey God, God is stronger. He is able to control what comes at me. Nothing can tempt me without His permission.

God also supplies a way of escape. This escape is not will power (or won’t power). It is the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Because of Him, I can put myself in His hands and let Him meet all accusations and any other type of temptation. This is what it is like to have a Savior. He saves me. I totter and struggle, but by calling out to Him, I also experience being able to say no to sin and yes to God.

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Lord, yesterday’s challenge proved again that You are faithful. I’d love to be protected from people who want to harm anyone who loves You, but I know that will not happen. Jesus did not escape such abuse and neither will I. In this experience and with the temptation to retaliate, I learned that I can teeter on the edge, but You are totally faithful. You pulled me back and kept me from tipping over.

Just shut up

The first sins after than initial eating of the forbidden fruit was self-defense and blame-shifting. When God asked about what he had done, Adam said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself. . . . The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:10–12)

Adam defended himself. Also, it is often said that he blamed Eve, but that phrase “You gave to be with me” showed that he blamed God for his sin. While this seems ludicrous, the New Testament has to remind us that we tend to do this:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13–15)

In the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about the ways that I blame God. It seems that each time I complain, given that I believe God is sovereign, then I am actually blaming God’s providence for the circumstances that I do not want or like. My mother used to say, “Well, we must need this or we would not be getting it.” These words were her way of trying to remind the family to be thankful rather than complain.

It is easier to be thankful for the good stuff. For instance, yesterday funeral service for my mother-in-law was a surprise blessing. The music, the message, the brief eulogy all worked together (evidence of the Holy Spirit who alone can produce such unity). Even the most distressed mourners were amazed at the blessing and the peace that came to their hearts. We can easily thank God for that and events like that.

However, this morning we looked out our hotel room window to a spring snowstorm. This is nasty weather for the six-hour drive home. Can I thank God for events like this? Or do I offer verbal expression to how much I do not like what is happening outside?

The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are tempted but did not sin. Surely this temptation to defend Himself and blame His Father would have been one of those ‘all’ points. One example where such temptation might have occurred was just before His crucifixion.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But He gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. (Matthew 27:13–14)

Jesus could have said, “My Father put me here to bear the sins of the world, so I must do that, no matter how nasty they are or how many lies they tell about me.”

Those would have been legitimate words; they were true. Out of His mouth they could have been uttered without a trace of resentment. Yet He knew our minds. Had He said that, I might have been the first one to use such a response to justify my responses to hardships, even those experienced when I obey God. They are what some called a “hidden brag” because saying something like this is self-serving. It says ‘look at me’ and even ‘poor me’ rather than resisting the temptation to make obedience about me instead of a glory to God.

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The Bible says that no one ever spoke like Jesus spoke. Spurgeon points out that no one was ever silent like Jesus either. Lord, I could take a few lessons in this. I’ve always been quick to defend myself when accused or even misunderstood, and quick to blame others, even You, when things do not go the way that I want them to. This makes life all about me, which is the very essence of sin. You created me to bring You glory. To do this, many times I don’t need to talk, but to simply shut up.

So that I may not sin . . .

Sometimes life sucks. How do I remain a contented child of God when the bottom falls out? How do I treat others well when ignored or despised or misunderstood? What do I do when everyone around me acts ignorantly or selfishly? Can I stand strong when I feel totally weak?

The Bible and my experience tell me that all of this is beyond me apart from Christ. In my humanness, I fall short. I will complain, be harsh and miserable toward others, sin and fall apart under pressure. Without Him, I have no spiritual power.

However, with Jesus I can do all things. He is my Rock, my solid place to stand. He gives me peace in storms, grace in sticky situations, and Holy Spirit power to obey God even in dire circumstances.

For a long time I thought that He can do this in me and does for me because He is fully divine, the Son of God. This morning I realize that this is not the main reason. Rather, Jesus saves and gives me that all I need in dire circumstances because He is fully human, the Son of man, and because He suffered.

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. (Hebrews 5:8–9)

While Jesus was on earth, He suffered as humanity suffers. He was hungry, thirsty, tired, misunderstood, ridiculed, rejected, scorned, lied to, physically beaten, abandoned, lonely, you name it. 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Jesus knows what human life is like. He experienced all of it, yet in all that He went through, He did not sin. In this, He knows how and what I suffer. He knows every temptation that I face and every misery that falls on me because He has been there and battled that.

But He didn’t sin — and He lives in me. This is why I can obey God in all my trials — not because I have the power, but because Jesus obeyed God in all trials — and He lives in me. He has the power and because He learned obedience through suffering, He gives that power to me. I can obey, even in tough times. He is the source of my salvation. He saves me from the power of sin as I do what He asks.

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Oh Jesus, the trials are not particularly difficult today, except that I am very tired and things seem bigger with fatigue. However, this truth and the reality of Your grace in trials are not for just this day. Times will come (as they have in the past) when the challenges of life will totally overwhelm me. During those toughest tests, and even now in less difficult days, do not let me forget that no matter how rocky my roads, You have walked all of them before me. You know exactly how to meet every twist and turn with grace and spiritual power. You know how to obey Your heavenly Father, no matter what.

I’m glad that you sympathize with my weaknesses, yet You did not go through such suffering so You might offer empathy or pity. You did it so that You could offer me Yourself and the ability to also obey my heavenly Father, no matter what.