ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENT 2010
CHRIST’S TEMPTATIONS AND OUR’S
READ: LUKE 4: 1 -
If you take the B.R.F. Guidelines booklet, at the beginning of February, you will have
seen that we have been asked to consider Jesus’ temptations and if any of the three face
us today.
Guidelines, tells us that the first and third temptations focussed on Jesus status as
God’s Son. Because He is God’s Son there was no guarantee that He would follow
God’s commands. He had to decide how He would use His power. Would He use it for
His own ends? Jesus chose the path of humility and obedience to His Father.
The second commandment Guidelines says, is different. Jesus is already the rightful
ruler of the kingdoms of the world. He could have used His position for good or evil. He
could have accepted the devil instead of God. Jesus sent the devil packing -
How then, do we use status and power and what decisions do we make?
Do we use status for our own glory; do we use it selfishly and for what we can get
out of it and in so doing, do we hurt and damage others on the way? Is our self-
based on how well we’ve done, what authority our positions award us and what people
think of us rather than being children of God serving Him only?
What about the powers we have. These include the God given skills and abilities.
Do we use them to help others and to build up the church, working for the Kingdom of
God? Alternatively, do we use them for the praise of human kind, financial reward,
increased wealth and easy living for our selves?
During Lent this year perhaps we should take stock of our lives, who we are, how
we respond to authority given to us or over us, what gifts we have and how we use
them, and examine our motives behind our reactions to all of these.
God is our Heavenly Father, and our lives should be lived in the likeness of Jesus,
in humility and obedience to God’s will. God only should we worship and His praise only
should we seek.
The way we think, the things we do, our work, our leisure, all should be part of
our witness to God and as ambassadors of His church.
Will we too send the devil packing, this Lenten season 2010?
Amen.
