Continuation of the series on Earth as Basic Training for Heaven
Would a loving Father ever let his child endure difficult things?
If every time a child tried to walk and fell, we picked him up, carried him and never let him try again, his muscles would never get strong enough to support him. He would never learn how to walk.
So we let our children struggle to get stronger and to learn. And we stay very close. We encourage them to remember what they are learning.
As adults, we often see problems as obstacles. We wonder why God did not prevent them or at least now fix them quickly.
We may start to doubt whether He is really our Father and whether He really loves us.
After God The Father let the world know He loved Jesus, He led Him into the wilderness. He was there for one purpose.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1
Jesus was without food for 40 days. He was hungry. Satan does not always show himself at the beginning of the battle. He comes out of hiding when we are hungry for something.
His first tactic is to try to get us to forget who we are. We are children of God.
So satan began his temptations by saying, "If you are The Son of God." He will do the same to you.
In your moments of weakness, he will say, "If God is your Father, where is He? If you are really His child, why doesn't He take you out of this wilderness? Did you know God is The One Who brought you here?"
And because we are children of God, we can know in our heart of hearts why we are there. We are there to defeat satan, using The Word that comes from inside us — The Word that is alive and powerful — The Word that is God.
Jesus did just that. He soundly defeated satan on his own turf, as He would do again and again, getting stronger with each victory.
He did it by knowing God's Word, knowing how to apply it, and letting God work through His Word.
If you are in the wilderness, know your Father God is right there with you. Let Him speak through you. With every victory, you too will get stronger!
Paul said this about Jesus.
"For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
Hebrews 4:15
Jesus was tempted. You will be tempted. Do what Jesus did. Use The Power of God's Word that is inside you!
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 the thoughts and attitudes of the heart!
Hebrews 4:12
The Word is God!
John 1:1
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