Because temptation is where we begin, whether we have known Jesus for decades or just met him yesterday, it all begins in temptation. We are tempted to pretend that Jesus just isn't important. We are tempted to live as if God did not exist. We are tempted to practice prayer as if God were a cosmic vending machine. We are tempted to see the gifts, talents, assets of our hands as a reflection of our goodness and moral character. We are tempted......
The temptation of Jesus by the devil focuses on three things:
First, the temptation to seek our own comfort over the desire of God or the needs of the people
Second, the temptation to make ourselves important and to lord (!) that over everyone around us.
Third, the temptation to manipulate God's word of grace, mercy, and community to our own benefit.
Can you see any of your own temptations in that list? They are all about 'me': what I want, what I think I need, how I might get ahead.
When we focus on the 'me' we are not thinking about the 'we'. We are not servants. Of anyone except ourselves. Lots of people live that way. All people are tempted to live that way on any given occasion.
Jesus says you will not find life along that path. Then he tells the devil to go pound salt.
That's our first lesson.
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