Day 16 - Tempting Invitations

I find it fitting that as I am completing my lesson tonight, I am watching one of my favorite shows The Biggest Loser.

The contestants have just been given a temptation challenge. The are placed in a small room with food stacked from top to bottom and are allowed to eat whatever they want.  The team with the highest calories gets to send a team away for the week. 

I marveled as team after team fought the temptation and did not eat.  Out of all the people, only 1 person ate.  Colin said, "Mama, they aren't eating anything."   I explained to him that it was a temptation challenge, they were being tempted to eat when it would be best not too.  It was good that they weren't eating.

I don't know about you, but food is very tempting to me.  That is probably one of the things I struggle with the most.  I absolutely L.O.V.E. to eat.  Chaney's Dairy Barn, Gigi's Cupcakes, Dunkin Donuts, hashbrown casserole, sweet potato casserole, biscuits, bacon, YUMMY.  I think I could eat those things everyday.  I love a good salad bar....Ryan's Steakhouse! 

I got to thinking about when I most often give in to the temptation to eat.  Usually it is when I am home for long periods of time (these snow and sick days we've been having) and throughout the school day (I'll get piece of candy out of the treat jar to get me through a bad class). 

I think sometimes we feel guilty when we are tempted, but we need to remember that temptation is not a sin. It is falling into the temptation, doing something you know God does not approve of, something against His will or command. 

However, we should count it as joy to know that we are not alone in our temptations. 

Jesus was tempted. 

I was appalled at Beth Moore's question "Why do you think God allowed Jesus to be tempted?"  My immediate thought was I don't know, does it really matter. 

Yes, it does.

I guess I first I was appalled because I had not a clue why God would allow it.  I was at a loss, so I did the best thing I could do....I read the commentary in my Bible (after of course I read Luke 4:1-13 because I had first read Matthew 4:1-11).  After I read it, I realized WHY. 

You see, temptation is a test....a test of genuiness, faithfulness, and character.  The temptations of Jesus show us that He was faithful in his mission.  I'm sure after fasting, Jesus was practically starving, so how easy then would it have been to turn a stone to bread?  He could do it, no doubt about it.  Jesus could have reign over all the land right then and there, but why?  He is going to have it in the "end" anyway.  And as for Him throwing himself from the temple, wouldn't that mess up the plan of the cross?  I'm sure after 40 days of fasting, Jesus may have been weak maybe a bit delirious. I know I would be.  And isn't it just like Satan to take a shot at us when we are already down? 

But look at the magical weapon....THE WORD OF GOD.

Jesus fought back using the WORD.  That's is where His strength to fight temptation came from.  What an awesome example for us.

I can recall stories and remember the most important part of some scripture, but as for recalling scripture verbatum, I can't.  It is sad to say that I know John 3:16 and Psalm 118:24. Other than that, I can give you the words of others, but not where exactly it is found. 

So, for me, I want to learn from Jesus. I want to be able to fight off Satan with the Word of God.  I want to be able to resist temptation like my Savior.