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"The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him." Mark 1:12 New Living Translation
Jesus' temptation in the wilderness mirrors the life of the people of Israel who face temptations for forty years in the Sinai wilderness. The focus of these temptations for both Jesus and the Israelites was to avoid the will of God.
In the story of the Israelites, they failed the test. On the brink of entering the Promised Land, they failed to seize the moment. Their failure of faith delayed what God had promised.
We, too, come up short in resisting temptation. We've not acted in obedience to God's call. How many times have we heard God say, "Go!" and we've said, "Yes!" only to find ourselves passing the hours before our televisions instead?
Unlike us, Jesus resisted the temptation he faced. He resisted the temptation to flee the cross. It was a temptation that he not only faced in the wilderness, but in the garden, in Pilate's presence and as the crowds jeered him with the words, "Come down from the cross!"
Our salvation is dependent on Jesus saying, "No!" to temptation. This is it! This is our life!
In the story of the Israelites, they failed the test. On the brink of entering the Promised Land, they failed to seize the moment. Their failure of faith delayed what God had promised.
We, too, come up short in resisting temptation. We've not acted in obedience to God's call. How many times have we heard God say, "Go!" and we've said, "Yes!" only to find ourselves passing the hours before our televisions instead?
Unlike us, Jesus resisted the temptation he faced. He resisted the temptation to flee the cross. It was a temptation that he not only faced in the wilderness, but in the garden, in Pilate's presence and as the crowds jeered him with the words, "Come down from the cross!"
Our salvation is dependent on Jesus saying, "No!" to temptation. This is it! This is our life!
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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes broadcast on The iB Network Internet radio station every Sunday at 8:00 & 11:30 am, as well as, 1:00 & 8:00 pm MST (www.ibnetwork.us). You can also listen to the show using the Tunin app on your mobile device.
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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner. ARR.
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