Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, His Word.
Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!
1,2,3!!
“Then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1NKJV
As I think back on the concept of threes, 1, 2, 3, in my younger years, this was how God would to talk with me. When something was of great importance, he would show it to me in threes. This started in high school. On my first real job once my daughter was old enough for day care, I remember spending the first part of my day, calling schools, parents and checking on various services that would be beneficial for the families I serviced. After lunch, I thought to myself this would be a great day to go make a few home visits.
At one of the homes, I went to no one was there. I did see a sign on the front of the steel gate that read, Beware of Dog. Let’s just say for all practical purposes this was my first sign (number one) that God was talking to me. Sitting there in the vehicle, I took my time filling out the door hanger style information sheet. Once I got out of the car, I did notice that there was a dog on the porch.
Looking around I entered the gate and walked up the porch stairs to the front door (that’s number two). There was this tiny pup sleeping on a blanket in a basket. He was the cuties little pup you’d ever wanna see ya’ll. His blue eyes opened and locked with mine, as he yawned, stretched, and yelped for my attention. I smiled down at him, giving him plenty of oohs, awes and baby talk. Getting back to my reason for coming to the door in the first place, I glanced over my contact information on the door hanger and then put it on the doorknob. I gave the pup one more glance and said, “bye, bye.”
When I turned around there was a momma Pitbull standing there and she did not look happy that I was first on the porch with her baby, and secondly that I was in her yard. (that’s three ya’ll) What does one do in a situation like this? Did I tell you she was looking at me like I was a king size doggie treat. In those precious seconds, I saw my life and that beware of dog sign flashing before my eyes.
Not wanting to show fear, I slowly backed away from her baby, as I moved ever so slowly down the stairs, still facing her. Once I got on the other side of that gate and closed it, she went crazy. I thought she was going to take the gate down. I hurried up and got back in the car, relieved to still be alive and unharmed. I gave Jesus some praises and hallelujah’s all the way back to the office friends! He protected me. As I replayed that situation over in my head, I realized it happened all because I ignored the warning sign at the gate. I learned a valuable lesson that day, and throughout my career from that point on, I never made that mistake again.
Our lesson for today speaks about Jesus who was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The word led implies following the will of another. To be led by the Spirit is to follow the guidance of the spirit, it is to be submissive to His will. There is no surprising God when it comes to anything. Even though His divinity was hidden in a human body, it took nothing away from what he already knew as the truth. The word goes on to say that when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. What are you like when you are hungry? Are you cranky, mean, lightheaded, or are you lie me, can’t think straight because your stomach growling so loud.
Let’s look at the Word in action through Jesus Christ as his response to the Satan with three statements: First,“it is written man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from God’s mouth.” I am reminded of how powerful God’s Word is. It is life and strength. And when we do not have enough of God’s Word, we lose clarity and focus. Secondly, he told Satan, “thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Jesus is both clear and direct as reminds him who rules. God was on the scene before he was made to worship him. And thirdly, “though shalt worship the Lord your God and him only you shall serve.” Jesus, the God on earth reaffirms his position and authority. As tired, worn out and hungry as Jesus may have been, His spiritual muscles were working just fine.
Friends, through every test, depend on the Word of God to help you get through it. Amen!
Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.
