Overcoming temptation
Day 653, Tuesday, May 26
Hebrews Chapter 4 -5:10
Chapter 4 begins with the promise of entering God’s rest—a promise of peace that speaks to every soul, at least in some seasons of life.
Entering that rest depends not on works, but on what goes on inside of us: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Lest that sound too much like God is watching eagerly looking for a weakness so he can pounce and say, “gotcha!”, the letter continues with reassurance. Looking backward, even in Old Testament days the high priest was chosen from among the people and was himself human. “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.”
But even greater news is found in Hebrews 4:14-16. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
In spite of the explicit words of scripture that describe Jesus as “one who has been tempted in every way just as we are,” this is still a concept many are uncomfortable with.
The 1988 movie, “The Last Temptation of Christ,” created a lot of controversy be exploring exactly this idea. Many believers seemed to object not just to the speculative fictional images of that temptation, but to the very idea that Jesus could have really been tempted.
If this passage isn’t clear enough, the gospels themselves speak of the devil tempting Jesus in the wilderness after his baptism—and the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane sounds like sincere struggle. If Jesus was not really tempted in the same way we are, then his righteousness was a meaningless counterfeit of real obedience and is stripped of its power.
Tuesday meditation
Psalms 125:1-5
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.
Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.
Prayer focus
Thank you, Lord, for understanding our weakness, and for showing us we don’t have to give in to it.
-Rev. Mark Fleming