"The tempter came to him." - Matthew 4:1-11Jesus’ experience in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry was crucial to the formation of his character. It was there that Satan tempted him with promises of:
1) Safety and security,
2) Power and control,
3) Affection and esteem.
All that was required of Jesus to obtain these deeply human wants was to acknowledge Satan’s lordship. How tempting! Isn’t that what we desire? To be safe, to be in control, to be well-regarded? Yet, it is the pursuit of these ego-driven goals that drives us straight into the arms of the Father of Lies.
Jesus spent his entire ministry living into his Father’s will for him as he understood it. In turning away from the pull to self-satisfaction and turning towards surrender to God, he models for us the journey towards liberation of our true selves from the illusory need to be our own saviors.
Lent is an occasion to reflect on the temptations in our own lives. It is likely that whatever we come up with will be a version of one or more of Satan’s seductive promises to Jesus. Name it and write it on a piece of paper. God is always inviting us to surrender whatever wants underly our particular temptation. Allow God’s healing grace to flow. It is the path to genuine wholeness.
— The Rev Lex Breckinridge
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