Current event: the typical temptation you and I will experience today (whatever that may be).

I was contemplating this morning the story of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the desert for a time of testing (Luke 4:1-2). Satan used that same experience for a time of tempting. As often happens, one activity can have two widely different purposes—one for good and one for bad. Like when Joseph spoke to his brothers about their having sold him into slavery—“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good” (Gen 50:20). Well, after Jesus resisted Satan’s three temptations, the Scripture reports, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” (Luke 4:14) There was something galvanizing about that test through which God had lead Him, that temptation with which Satan had enticed Him.

Reminds me of Job, where God said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” (Job 1:8). God initiated the contest, inviting Satan to take a shot at the mere mortal. Likewise, God baited Satan concerning Jesus. In essence, He was saying, “Give Jesus your best shot,” just like you did with Job. “You will find Him impeccable.” So, Satan set about tempting Jesus to step out of His self-imposed limitation as a mere human (Phil 2:6-8) and resume His own godly powers; to abandon His role as the “son of man” and act unilaterally and solely as “Son of God.” However, by resisting as a mere mortal with only the Word of God as His defense, Jesus came away not in His own strength as God, but in the Holy Spirit’s strength as a man.

Since Jesus is our model, there are valuable lessons for us in all this: 1) God tests our character when we are tempted. 2) We are imbued with fresh spiritual power when we resist temptation. 3) The Word of God is essential for success.

“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Rom 6:11 (NASB)