Jesus the High Priest survived temptation

8 March
Read Hebrews 4:14-5:5 and reflect on the passage.

Jesus was “tempted in all things, yet without sin.” He survived temptation—hard to imagine as I think of my track-record! What temptations do I face? They are common to all, even Jesus: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life (1 John 2:16). Guilty as charged. Sometimes I feel the score is: Temptation 1000, Me 0. And, indeed, it can be so when I try dealing with temptation myself. I need to rely on Jesus, the victor, who won over temptation. Why? Two reasons: (1) to help me overcome temptation, and (2) to cover me when I blow it.

An old hymn asks, “Have we trials and temptations, is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.” We can confidently come to the throne of grace, knowing that in our need, we will receive mercy and grace. We know because we meet our perfect High Priest there; He who remained sinless in the face of extraordinary temptation became the perfect sacrifice for our long-standing record of losses. Without Him, we are the biggest losers. With Him, we are the greatest winners, because He is the Ultimate Survivor.

Questions

1. What temptations do you still try to deal with yourself and continue to fail? Why not begin relying on your sinless High Priest?

2. Is there some sin you feel disqualifies you from going confidently into God’s presence to receive His mercy and grace? Why not trust His promises?

Prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows bear? You know our every weakness, we bring all to You in prayer.

Mary Lou Garves

The good news about the bad news

So do you want the good news first, or the bad news? 

Someone said, “Bad news.”  OK ...

Here’s the bad news: We are going to be tempted.  We will be enticed to do something that appeals to us, even though we know it to be wrong.  The allure may be to deceive, because we want to avoid confrontation ... or to take what is not ours, in order to alleviate our discontent ... or to hold grudges, so to insulate ourselves from being vulnerable again ... or to boast, assuaging self-doubt ... or to speak ill of another and get “sweet revenge.”  It’s not a matter of “if” we will be tempted, but of “when” and “how.” And, of course, “what” we will do in the face of it!

Recalling the Israelites in exodus from Egypt, the Apostle Paul observed that all proceeded forth under a spectacular pillar of cloud, but some became idolaters ... all miraculously passed through the sea, but some committed sexual immorality ... all ate the same spiritual food (manna), but some tested the Lord ... all drank the same spiritual drink that poured forth from the rock, yet some grumbled.  I think it would be safe to say that all were lured in these ways and that, while some took the bait, others resisted it.

And that’s the good news: We can stand up under temptation.  It is helpful to know there is nothing unusual about the specific types of enticement we face at any given moment; people around the globe encounter the same ones every day ... and many stand up to them.  Their trust and obedience inspire us.  We are not alone.

In fact, when we are tempted, God, himself, is right there with us ... and not just passively so, but actively engaged on our behalf!  Paul promises us in today’s reading, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  And James assures us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:7-8a)”

Temptation is inevitable, but deliverance is available.  The good news overpowers the bad.

[To see the daily reading, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, click here.]