Lenten Tests
This month the church is entering the season it calls Lent; traditionally it was a time of fasting lasting 40 days before the great Christian festival of Easter. During early centuries the observance of the fast was rigid: only one meal a day was allowed and flesh meat and fish were forbidden, gradually the fast was relaxed over the centuries. However, many Christians still observe this season as a period when they will abstain from some foodstuffs or treats (eg chocolates!) until Easter comes.
Lent is still a time set aside for self examination, perhaps looking more deeply into one’s beliefs, perhaps studying scriptures more closely using many of the specially written Lent courses. It could be described as a time of testing one’s resolve; partly this is a reminder of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness where he faced a period of testing and temptation by the devil.
Temptation is still all around us and we need constantly to be aware of the cost of falling into its snare. Jesus out in the desert quite naturally became hungry; the devil’s first temptation to Jesus was that he should use his power to turn the nearby stones into bread. It might seem that it wouldn’t really matter, it wouldn’t hurt anyone and it would cure his hunger, but using that God-given power to satisfy his own desires would only have been the first step! How often are we in that position where we are tempted to use a position of power or authority to meet our own needs rather than for the greater good of others?
The second temptation Jesus faced was the devil urging him to throw himself down off the temple pinnacles:- "Go on, God will save you!" in effect putting God to an arbitrary test. There is sometimes a temptation to try and make a deal with God by saying I will do this if You will do that for me. God knows our needs anyway, so we cannot barter with him.
Test number three for Jesus came when the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. "Bow down and worship me and all these will be yours" said the devil. There is always a temptation to take something that isn’t yours, or claim credit for work that others have done.
Jesus was able to withstand these temptations and I hope that we have his strength and help to withstand the many temptations which we face in our daily lives.
"Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow you."
Nigel Good
