Continuing in my study of Luke. After a brief history of John the Baptist and his message, Luke focuses on his main subject–Jesus. Jesus meets John at the river where he is baptized and has a spiritual experience. He then proceeds to the wilderness to contemplate his new insights and probably his upcoming ministry when he is tempted by the devil.
This is a well-known, and usually forgotten, aspect of spiritual life. Almost inevitably after a moving spiritual experience–whether at camp, during prayer, at an event such as an Emmaus walk–temptations are shown to you. Some are quite subtle and you may not recognize them. Others are more bold, but nonetheless powerful. In the time of Luke, the spiritual force that tempted people was given the name translated as the devil. We don’t use that term very much today, but the spiritual reality is quite real. Into your head pop visions of “entertaining” or “fun” things. They can be so powerful that you begin to fixate on them. These emotions (as we often call them today) can be sexual or other relationship-destroying urges. It may be alcohol or drugs to help maintain the high. It may be a fixation on things rather than people. It may be a fixation on self instead of others. Whatever, these are powerful agents and must be dealt with by prayer and by seeking the help of a spiritual guide. Notice that Jesus quotes Scripture to the devil. He learned what God wants through study. That in itself is a great guide to us. But, beware just memorizing Scripture. In the final temptation, the devil quotes Scripture to Jesus. But He sees the fallacy of interpretation in the quote and one-ups the quote with another that more truly reflects the will of God.
So, be alert to temptations that seem to pop from nowhere into your consciousness. Learn the Bible–and how to interpret what God really means. Stay focused on God–and you’ll continue in the life.
–Gary Mintchell
Tags: Christianity, Spirituality, Study, Temptation
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