January 7, 2018 - TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL

Day 7 (Today’s Bible readings - Genesis 5 / Psalm 6 / Matthew 4:1-11)

“And the tempter came and... Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’‘” (Matthew 4:1-11)

How are you today? “Blessed by the Lord and tempted by the devil.” So said Elmer, a faithful member of a form congregation. “Tempted by the devil,” that describes all of us. And what is the result of this temptation? Our Genesis reading for today clearly shows us the answer:
Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.
Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.
Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.
Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.
Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.
Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.
Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.
Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died. (From Genesis 5)

We are impressed with how many years of life God granted our faithful ancestors. Yet, the fact is that they all still died. They gave into temptation and lived lives filled with sin.

There has only been One who walked this earth without sinning. Yes, Jesus was tempted, but He did not give in and break God’s Law. Do you notice how Jesus responded to each of Satan’s attempt to lead Him into sin?

● 4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 
● 7 “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 
● 10 “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Jesus resists temptation by quoting the Bible... “It is written...”

Not only has Jesus given us the example of how to resist temptation. By living the sinless life God the Father required, Christ’s innocence is now bestowed on all and any who believe that the sinless Son of God died in their place on the cross.

“...in every respect (Jesus) has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15b) What good news it is that Jesus was tempted by the devil, because we who repent a believe are now and eternally blessed by the Lord!

Thank You Lord Jesus for resisting temptation so that You could pay for all of the countless times I do not resist. Heavenly Father, mercifully continue to bestow Your gracious gift of forgiveness on me. Amen.

“See” you at the Communion table this morning!

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!