14 February 2016 - tested testimony

[ Today's Readings ]

 Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

LORD, we don't respond to temptation as well as we should. You go into the desert filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit in our own deserts of temptation. You are victorious in temptation so that we can share in your victory.

 We have heard in the gospel how the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Certainly Christ was tempted by the devil. In Christ you were tempted, for Christ received his flesh from your nature, but by his own power gained life for you; he suffered insults in your nature, but by his own power gained glory for you; therefore, he suffered temptation in your nature, but by his own power gained victory for you. - From a commentary on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop

Jesus, the devil tries to twist things we know to be good and trick us into pursuing them instead of greater goods. He can even quote Scriptures to this end. But you are unshaken. You know the Scriptures better than him because you yourself are the word. You overcome the devil precisely by quoting Scripture and giving context to the partial truths he tells. 

Jesus answered him, 
“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”

...

Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”“It is written:
You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.”

...

“It also says,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

But what about us? We don't know Scripture anywhere near that well. You assure us that we know it well enough.

What does Scripture say?
The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart
—that is, the word of faith that we preach—, 
for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord 
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, 
you will be saved.

We know that we need to rely on you and put you first. When we do this temptations are unmasked for what they really are. They are challenges to your position in the center of our lives. There is nothing wrong with bread in itself but it can't be more important to us than the words that come forth from the mouth of God. This word is simple and ready at hand. To temptations we can simply say, "Jesus is LORD", and watch them flee from us.

You do allow us to be tested LORD. We have testimonies because we are tested and because you yourself deliver us (otherwise, as they say, we just have the moanies). We must look to you for help and to acknowledge your help with thanks.

He brought us out of Egypt
with his strong hand and outstretched arm,
with terrifying power, with signs and wonders;
and bringing us into this country,
he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.
Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruits
of the products of the soil 
which you, O LORD, have given me.’

This is how we grow in faith and in trust in you, LORD. You orchestrate the circumstances and provide the power and wisdom to navigate them. No matter how dire they are we need not fear with you protecting us.

Upon their hands they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the asp and the viper;
you shall trample down the lion and the dragon.

Your word, Jesus, is close. Let us cling to that word today.

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.