5:16 Club, Day 9 - Are Saturday Mornings Meant for Sleep?

Maybe just a little bit? I set my alarm for 5:16 am again, and was more than prepared to awake early, but heading to bed after 11:00 pm forces a pretty short night. I do believe that is why God allowed me to sleep an hour later this morning. Hopefully, everyone else will sleep just as late, and I'll finish up with my morning things before they start looking for some breakfast on the table.

This morning time is so precious that I hardly perceive it as a sacrifice. The hum of the house and sun beaming in through the window, casting His light on my Bible, is the exact type of moment I want to freeze in time. I give thanks to the Lord for the freedom to worship and pray, casting my cares upon the Him and leaving my burdens at the cross before beginning the day.

What does a person do without Jesus? The weight of issues pressing in on me from various directions would be too, too much to bear on my own. I find there is great temptation to find a solution or run from some of these really intimidating problems. But I've also learned from experience that when we do that, we have the potential of making things worse. What seems like the right solution to us, may not have God's eternal perspective factored in. Attempting to lighten our load may inadvertently heavy another's. I've come to believe that our first course of action needs to be responding in truth according to the Word partnered with prayer and waiting on the Lord. It may not feel like doing this is actually working to resolve the problems at hand, but it is the wisest move to give our circumstances right back to the One who knows everything!

Looking at Matthew 4 this morning was a confirmation of this approach to solving our problems. Jesus' example when tempted by the Devil gives great illustration for what we are to expect in this life and how we need to respond. Three times in a very short period, the tempter approached Jesus, seeking to cause the Son of God to fall. We, too, will face trials in short periods of time. God uses each of them to develop our character and strengthen our resolve toward serving Him (James 1). When we do, will we stand, as Christ stood, responding with Truth?

God allow Jesus' temptation for His glory. As Jesus to resisted the Devil's schemes, He proved Himself fully obedient in the flesh as well as the Spirit. Each time, He replied with the Word, quoting Scriptures from Deuteronomy. Is that our method in response to life's temptations and trials? Do we turn to the Scriptures, speaking out and praying in Truth?

What really strikes me about this passage is how it falls just prior to the beginning of Christ's ministry. Until this point in time, John was preparing the way for the Lord, declaring that all should repent for the Kingdom of God was coming (Matthew 3:2). Jesus' temptation by Satan occurs, and He withstood the test without sinning. After standing firm, He begins to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17 ESV). The first disciples are then called, and together they head to Galilee for Jesus to minister to the great crowds.

How is this relevant to our lives? Well, I think we can draw some pretty obvious parallels:

1. We will be tested by the Devil's schemes. God permits it.
2. These tests may come close together, one after another, and God will use each of them to develop our character.
3. Our best, and only, response is the Word and prayer.
   
4. The greatest testing period of our lives may very well occur just before a great ministry opportunity.
5. Unlike Jesus, we are not without sin. We may fail under trial. But Jesus gives us the exact course of action: Repent. (Matthew 4:17).
6. God also promises in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
   

I am encouraged by this passage in a new way. Jesus was tempted and overcame. We, too, will be tempted under trials to run away, but we can stand firm on the Word and also be overcomers in Christ. It may not be easy! But we can do it!

May you be encouraged in the Word today and find your strength in the Lord.

Because of Him,