09/19/2023
Are we being tempted with Jesus Christ even today? In that temptation do we continue on with Him, or do we turn away from Him and leave? This is a question Jesus asked His disciples at the last supper, and which is still valid today. Let’s ask ourselves one more question... when we give into our temptations are we saddling and shaming Jesus with sin again?
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 KJV
Jesus lives on within us and Paul's words to the Galatians make this perfectly clear. There is only one way to understand it when he says "Christ liveth in me." As Christians, when we sin we are dragging Jesus into our sins with us. Is this a new revelation to you? Did you think that the sins you committed had no impact on anyone but yourself?
On several occasions I have watched television news as a person was arrested for some horrific murder, and there, being interviewed by the reporter, was his devastated mother and father. They didn't perpetuate the crime, but nonetheless, their lives were saddled with it as well. They struggled in their disbelief that their child could have done this, and were being painted with the same brush. In our failings we are much like the murderer in the news story, and we suffer Christ every bit as much as that man in handcuffs has suffered his parents... and his entire family.
We are inclined to think that Jesus was tempted just once by Satan following his 40 days in the desert; we call this "The Temptation of Christ", but in fact He was tempted every day... just as we are. And in our temptation He continues to be tempted today.
Jesus confirmed this when He told His disciple that they had been with him through His temptations...
“Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.”
Luke 22:28 KJV
When we read this statement we know He wasn't speaking of His temptation following the 40 days in the desert because He was alone there; so what temptation is He referring to? I believe He is speaking of the thousands of human temptations that confront us every day of our lives. The little lies that beg to be told, the jealousies that pop into our minds, the lusts that threaten to consume us, and so many more. Jesus was tempted in His life as we are tempted, and now that He lives within us, we force Him into confronting our temptations, and by virtue of that... we make Him bear our sins anew each time we fail.
Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and, as He spoke these words, many walked away. Are we, who are tempted with Jesus, walking with Him through our temptations, or do we abandon Him in the hope that our sins will not convict us? Listen to His words and then the reaction of those who heard them...
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?”
John 6:54-56, 61 KJV
The result of this discussion of communion was that many of His disciples walked away from Him. Is this true of us as well? When we are tempted with Christ abiding in us is the guilt too great, or the suffering too severe? Are we afraid to ask Him to remain in our lives and bodies? Would we rather face our sins blindly as fallen men and women, or suffer through the shame into repentance and forgiveness? Do we say "well, that's life" as we walk away, or do we say "this is not representative of my life in Christ", and shoulder responsibility for it? Do we go about clearing the name of Jesus by our contrition and pleas for forgiveness?
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
John 6:66-68 KJV
So we are tempted with Jesus, and if we resist that temptation we glorify Him who is in us, but if we give into the sin that confronts us then we pull Him into the mire along with us, and shame Him as we shame ourselves. We also see that some walk away rather than face what they have done and the difficulty of taking on the life of Christ. So each of us must answer the question that Jesus posed to the twelve... "will ye also go away?" Then, in that moment of decision, will we remain steadfast in our commitment to face temptation with Him, and say as Peter did... "to whom shall we go?"
Choose.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who lives in me, and I in Him. I thank you for the guidance and perfection He provides as I face each temptation in my life with Him. I know Father that there are times I have failed, and made the wrong choice. I know that in so doing I have suffered your Son, and brought shame upon Him and your house. Most Gracious Father, I weep in my contrition at those times and beg your forgiveness for bloodying your Holy Lamb once again with my sins. I have walked with Him as He was forced to feel my temptation, and have leaned on His goodness, perfection, and purity. Father, each time I am faced with my shortcomings Satan tempts me to turn away from you because of the guilt and shame in what I have done; in these times I must make the same decision that the disciples were faced with... will I say "get thee behind me Satan" and walk on with Jesus, or turn and walk away. Father, strengthen me in my faith and love of your Son, and let your Holy Spirit lift me up when I am certainly on the verge of falling. Let me be tempted with Christ and suffer Him not.
Rich Forbes