Isn’t it amazing how fast our kids grow up? As I spent time with Matthew this week, I reflected that it was just yesterday when he was a little baby. We both thought about this as we got his crib ready to go to the church nursery. It seems like just a short while ago, when he was in that crib. So many moments of rocking that little baby and placing him in the crib and hoping he would sleep well. Now Matthew is three and a half and he is so grown up. He loves doing as much as he can all by himself. It is amazing to see how much he can actually do. Just as he is growing in his physical and mental abilities, he is growing spiritually and morally as well.

When Matthew was just turning three, I despaired that he would ever do the right thing It seemed that if I asked him to go right, he would go left. If I said come here, he ran away. If I asked him to give me some space, he was by my side. And all of these disappointing choices, seemed to be pure impulse; knee jerk reaction. Now at three and a half, Matthew has changed his stance. He actually takes time to think through his choices. He still decides to do the opposite of what he is asked much of the time but at other times, it seems that he weighs the options and decides to make a responsible choice. I am still not sure of the criteria he uses for making choices but it is fascinating to watch him. I can tell that he is beginning to think through right and wrong because he now uses words like fault and blame. He likes to say he is sorry; sometimes as he is making the wrong choice. I can see the wheels rolling inside his little head. Does he want to please me or have the fun that awaits if he chooses his own desires? He is now even beginning to understand that there are consequences to his choices. If he behaves in the car, he may get a snack at the grocery store. If he picks up his toys, he may get to watch his favorite tv show. He understands delaying his pleasure in a manner that he did not a few months ago. And though there are many times that he decides to do what I ask, often the temptation is just too much to resist.

Aren’t we just like that? I know that there are so many times when I give in to my temptations. I know that it will be well with my soul and my body, if I do what I should to take care of myself. I need to get the appropriate amount of sleep, exercise and healthy food. I should work hard but I should also take time to rest. I know all of this and I know that if I do, I will be healthy. And yet the temptations of junk food, too much work, too little rest and too little exercise often sway me in the moment. One thing is for sure, there are temptations enough for each of us. Temptations can be large or small. Temptations can be of serious nature or seem inconsequential. Temptations can be those that we rarely talk about. We know that some times folks are tempted by the biggees: stealing, cheating, murdering and other crimes against humanity. Other temptations may not have a criminal intent. Temptations like adultery, gossip, drinking, and losing one’s temper. There are lots of temptations.

In today’s scripture Jesus went off to the desert to prepare himself for his ministry. The devil approached him with three temptations. The first temptation was to turn stones into bread. Jesus had been fasting as a spiritual discipline and was hungry. The devil tempted him by taunting Jesus to use the power he had been given by God, for his own needs, instead of for glorifying God in service to others. The second temptation was another attempt to distract Jesus from God’s plan. The devil used a mis-interpreted Scripture reference to tempt Jesus to use his power to bring folks under his influence by performing dazzling displays of his power. The devil hoped that Jesus would skip God’s plan and mesmerize the people instead of bringing them into a closer relationship with God. Finally, the third temptation was perhaps the most difficult one.The devil offered Jesus the opportunity to leave behind God’s plan of salvation via the Cross for a political kingdom. Jesus never wavered. He was able to stay true to his purpose and his love of the Father though knowing all that would go before him.

It is certainly interesting to see how the devil worked in this account. He tempted Jesus first by trying to get Jesus to satisfy his physical needs in a manner that was not appropriate. Jesus was not to use his miracle power for his own needs and desires. There was nothing wrong with Jesus needing food. It was how he was to get the food that was at issue. Jesus responded by using God’s own words to deny the temptation. The devil got a bit more clever with the next temptation. When he tempted Jesus the second time, the devil used Scripture. The devil used it incorrectly in an effort to trick Jesus and it failed but it is amazing that the devil used some great strategy to try again. The third time the devil tempted Jesus, he went to the jugular. When he came at Jesus this next time, he tempted Jesus by offering an alternative to Jesus suffering on the Cross. The devil knew that this event would be the most difficult for Jesus to accept and the devil hoped that by offering an alternative, Jesus would crumble. Jesus withstood all of the temptations and went on to change the course of time. Jesus’ willingness to be self less and to love us more than himself changed your life and mine. Jesus chose to share himself and all of God with us for eternity.

During this season of Lent, it is appropriate to think about the sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us. We will soon be remembering the days after Jesus arrest and the suffering that he withstood so that we might have life eternal. And this account of the beginning of Jesus ministry is a foreshadowing of those days to come. But equally important during this season of Lent as we contemplate Jesus sacrifice, we are compelled to look more deeply at ourselves as well.

Lent is that time in the Christian year when each of us is encouraged to begin a time of reflection and meditation about our own Christian walk. Most of us would have to admit that we would be looking at a mixed review. Most of us have many good qualities. We try to help others in their need. We try to give to the poor and to God in our tithes and offerings. We do our best to give of our time to Godly ministries as well. As we look at ourselves, we can certainly see the good points that we share. And if we are honest, we may also see some areas where we have not been living up to the standards that we would like to.

If you are like me, you would have to admit that you have failed at times to resist the temptations. You might be in a habit of losing your temper. You may not spend as much time with God in Bible reading and prayer as you feel called to. It could be that you are spending money on earthly goods more than on heavenly concerns. Maybe you are not spending quality time with your kids or perhaps you have not been as loving a spouse as you need to be. We all face temptations and despite our best intentions, we may not be up to resisting them all the time.

So let us take a lesson from Jesus. He knew that he could resist temptations by spending time with his Father in Heaven. Jesus, we know from reading the Scripture reports, spent many hours in prayer. In fact, before he was tempted in this account, he had spent 40 days in prayer and solitude. How are you doing in that area? It seems to be directly relational. The more time you spend in prayer and communion with God, the better you are at resisting temptations. Most of us try to fit God in when we are not doing anything else. Perhaps right before we sleep or right before we get out of bed. Or maybe it is in that moment when you know you are in trouble. That is not the way to living well. We need to place God first. We need to have a regular practice of talking and listening to God. God loves and yearns for a friendship with us.

God wants us to talk to God about all areas of our lives. How do we make financial decisions? Who do we marry and what type of relationship do we want to have with our spouse? How do we use our time and what type of career should we involve ourselves in? These are all some of the conversations we need to have with God. When you have children, you are crazy if you don’t talk to God about some of the challenges in child rearing or in life with your adult children. God wants to be Lord of all. That type of relationship helps us to live victoriously.

We can also see that Jesus faces his temptations by reciting the appropriate Scripture. The book of Proverbs is a good starting place. Wouldn’t it be helpful to know the answers to life’s questions before you have to deal with them? The Bible is your book of answers. From child rearing to finances, friendship, marriage, or even the world of business. There are answers at our finger tips. The trick is to read the Bible! Now there are some of us that are good at remembering and there are others that need to go back to the source. Either way is good; as long as we know where to go. Now, I admit that I recommend reading scripture out loud and repeating it for areas that you know may be troublesome for you. This approach works for me when I have an issue that I am dealing with. If I am anxious, I try to repeat those scriptures that tell me to trust in the Lord. If I am suffering from the blues, I remind myself to make a joyful noise to the Lord. If I think I am going to spend money that I should not, there are scriptures for that as well. The Bible does have the power to change lives but only if we meditate upon it.

Friends, we are now firmly in the season of Lent and it is time to take an honest look at who we are. It is time to look at our strengths and our weaknesses. I encourage each of you to begin a Lenten spiritual discipline. Spend extra time with God this season. Allow God to gently and lovingly show you where you are at. And then immerse yourself in one or two scriptures that can help you with whatever area you may be struggling with. In this way, we join with Jesus in defeating the devil. We join in being victorious in fighting off those temptations which we all face. And then allow God in all of God’s love to comfort you, support you and even pick you up when you fall down. We serve a loving God; a God who knows us better than we can know ourselves. During this season of Lent, draw close to God and find joy. Amen.