Today’s Reading: Luke 4:1-13
Optional Readings: Matthew 3:1-4:11, Mark 1:1-13, Luke 3, John 1:15-34
Jesus Baptism, Temptation, and First Miracle
Oh this old snake, “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (Rev 12:9)- here we get a glimpse of him.
First, a few key things to keep in mind about the enemy of our souls-
He’s real.
He is not God’s equal. This isn’t a yin and yang type of relationship. This is a created being with a prideful, antagonistic position of rebellion against the Almighty Creator. He is lesser, and he is defeated in both the present and the future.
He has had a very very long time to study us. He is not omniscient, but he knows human nature probably better than we ourselves do. And he knows just how to manipulate our weaknesses for our destruction.
Jesus is victor!
Immediately after Jesus’ baptism, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to fast and be tempted. Fasting is horrible and wonderful, acutely human and deeply spiritual. I like to think of fasting like draining my own strength in order to be filled with His strength. That’s not a perfect or complete description, but it’s a helpful word picture for me. It’s an altogether different kind of dependence on the Father.
The Father isn’t the only one who notices our weakness in those hungry moments of self-denial though. What a perfect opportunity for the enemy to start his whispering. Remember that Jesus was fully man and fully God. He was as hungry as any man would be.
The enemy is trying to get Jesus to consider Himself before His Father.
He appeals to a desire for fleshly appetites. “...tell this stone to become bread.”
He appeals to a desire for power. “I will give you all [the kingdoms of the world] authority and splendor.”
He appeals to a desire to prove Himself. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.” Essentially he says - “prove it!”
These are all derivatives of that root sin, the devil’s playground, his favorite, his own– PRIDE.
It is at once the most powerful and least detectable of all sins. I am hard-pressed to think of any sin that doesn’t somehow have its root in pride. If a thought, word, or behavior feeds the “self” before any other motivating factor, that’s pride.
Perhaps we are tempted to think,
“I don’t flagrantly brag about my accomplishments. I don’t intentionally oppress anyone for my own gain. I don’t openly boast about how great I am. I think I’m safe. I’m not prideful.”
Oops. Did you catch it? That’s spiritual pride! “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor 10:12).
Pride can look like a bombastic braggart, but it is often way more subtle.
Sometimes we interrupt people in conversation (because what we have to say is more important).
Sometimes we correct people on a minor detail (to show that we know better than they).
Sometimes we do good works (so that other people will see and think better of us).
Sometimes we immediately get defensive (because we already did a great job and are probably more qualified than the person criticizing us anyway).
Did someone else come to mind when you read that? Ah ah ah. Eyes back to you. I guarantee there are parts of you that are prideful because that is the sin nature we all have.
Here are two ways to both identify your pride and fight against it:
GO TO THE SCRIPTURES. Jesus did.
Your gut, your heart, your feelings?…they will deceive you. Other people’s opinion?… often faulty, even if well-intentioned. The Holy Spirit? Trustworthy, but will always be confirmed by Scripture. The Bible is the surest way to get guidance.
Pray that God will make you more sensitive to your own pride. And here’s the good part– He will do it. He will do that not to shame you, but to free you.
Jesus, pride is so sneaky that I can’t always see it in myself. I don’t want to give the devil something he can use against me and against You. Will you help me to daily notice any of my own pride and surrender it to You? Amen.