When Jesus was in the desert being tempted, it was before his ministry began. The gospel of Luke records that he was full of the Spirit when he went to the desert. He was led by the Spirit to the desert for 40 days to be tempted by the devil. He was led by the Spirit to that arena of testing. What might this say to us in the light of our own battles with temptation or trial? Has God led us there? Does God have a purpose in it? Christ's temptation in the wilderness was to equip and strengthen him in the journey of sacrifice and service which was coming. Can we see our own testing in this light? Suffering and trial, when walked through with the Spiri,t makes us powerful for God - tried and tested and equipped and moulded - like a horseshoe in the molten furnace we are turned to usefulness and strength. God is in the lonely wilderness of temptation as much as he is in the lakeside walk of temperate sun and happy companions.
You just can't comprehend that, when you are in the furnace!
No comments:
Post a Comment