Today’s Readings: Psalm 91; Ezra 9:1-15; Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Psalm 51
Featured Reading: Matthew 4:1-11. I found that one of the most intriguing occurrences in the last presidential election cycle also happened to be one of the most overlooked. And what was that occurrence? It was the revelation of former candidate John Edwards’ affair. I found that revelation fascinating on many levels; one of which was the level of honesty Sen. Edwards had in explaining why the affair happened afterwards. Instead of blaming it on others, he said: “I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic.” (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401581,00.html). I was reminded of that situation today as I read the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. So how are those events linked? Well, for me the events are linked because they remind us that the temptations we face are rarely if ever generic. The most serious temptations we wrestle with grow out of the specific circumstances of our lives. Take Jesus’ situation, for example. The first temptation – the offer of bread – was a temptation that grew out of Jesus’ hunger following his fast. The second temptation – the invitation to force the angels to protect Jesus? It was probably generated by Jesus’ sense of impending doom as he anticipated a showdown with the authorities. The third temptation – the opportunity to acquire power? It very well might have been born out of Jesus’ sincere desire to bring forth the kingdom of God. A similar dynamic was probably at worked with Sen. Edwards. His need for affirmation – combined with the constant adulation he encountered on the campaign trail - made him more vulnerable than he might otherwise have been. So if all of this is true – that the greatest temptations we face aren’t generic, but specific to our situation – what are the most serious temptations you are facing? By taking some time today and identifying the most serious challenges we face on a regular basis, we might be able to get a jump on those temptations before they emerge and threaten to take over our lives. Til next time…
Featured Reading: Matthew 4:1-11. I found that one of the most intriguing occurrences in the last presidential election cycle also happened to be one of the most overlooked. And what was that occurrence? It was the revelation of former candidate John Edwards’ affair. I found that revelation fascinating on many levels; one of which was the level of honesty Sen. Edwards had in explaining why the affair happened afterwards. Instead of blaming it on others, he said: “I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic.” (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401581,00.html). I was reminded of that situation today as I read the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. So how are those events linked? Well, for me the events are linked because they remind us that the temptations we face are rarely if ever generic. The most serious temptations we wrestle with grow out of the specific circumstances of our lives. Take Jesus’ situation, for example. The first temptation – the offer of bread – was a temptation that grew out of Jesus’ hunger following his fast. The second temptation – the invitation to force the angels to protect Jesus? It was probably generated by Jesus’ sense of impending doom as he anticipated a showdown with the authorities. The third temptation – the opportunity to acquire power? It very well might have been born out of Jesus’ sincere desire to bring forth the kingdom of God. A similar dynamic was probably at worked with Sen. Edwards. His need for affirmation – combined with the constant adulation he encountered on the campaign trail - made him more vulnerable than he might otherwise have been. So if all of this is true – that the greatest temptations we face aren’t generic, but specific to our situation – what are the most serious temptations you are facing? By taking some time today and identifying the most serious challenges we face on a regular basis, we might be able to get a jump on those temptations before they emerge and threaten to take over our lives. Til next time…
No comments:
Post a Comment