The Reality of Suffering

 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry…Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”(rf. Mt. 4:1–2, 11 NJKV)

 

 

            Having entered into Lent, it is helpful to be reminded of what this particular season of the Church year means to us as believers in Jesus. Indeed, the observance of Lent assists us in preparing our hearts to return again to the cross and empty tomb of Christ and to do so with a better perspective of worship and gratitude for what exactly was accomplished in those locations.

            First of all, as the old saying goes, “It is always darkest before the dawn”, so in this season as in the temptation of Jesus by Satan, we are confronted with the uncomfortable reality that in service to Him we are not called to lives of luxury and ease. As Jesus was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness”, we will likewise be led by God’s Spirit to places that are barren with little evidence of life. It is here we will face the harsh winds of adversity, change and pain. It is here we will quickly discover that we are not as self-sufficient as we thought or hoped to be. It is on this Hill of Difficulty, afterwards passing through the Valley of Humiliation (both important places of spiritual growth in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim Progress) that we find out just how hungry we are for God’s Word and Presence in our lives. Indeed, we will see that only He can provide all that we need to successfully navigate this dark time in our lives.

            Notice also that the purpose of Jesus being in the “wilderness” was “to be tempted by the devil” (vs. 1). There was a testing of Jesus that must take place in the will of the Father before Jesus could proceed with His foretold ministry. The Apostle Matthew relates how Jesus valiantly parried every thrust of Satan, countering all of the Enemy’s moves with an accurate rendering of God’s Word and meaning. When Satan saw that he was clearly beaten in this effort, He withdrew from the field of battle. Only then did Jesus get His needs met along with the encouragement He required (vs. 11). 

            It is obvious that Jesus as the Son of God, God Incarnate, was more than Satan’s equal. We look on at the foolishness of the Enemy to even think he could offer to Christ more than God Himself to get Jesus to switch allegiances. However, we also realize that we too are often confronted with offers to change sides by the Enemy and his cohorts. These invitations usually come at our lowest times, when we are struggling physically, emotionally, psychologically and, especially, spiritually. If we are to win the field as Jesus did, we must learn to wield the same weapon, God’s Holy Word, using it wisely and defensively. When we are successful in appropriating God’s Word rightly, we will find that our time in the “wilderness” will soon be past as will be the “temptation” that came with it.

            So, as we celebrate Lent, let us draw close to the Lord and His Word. Let us keep the suffering and successes of Christ before us as we view Him as our example of how to overcome our difficulties and trials. Let us look forward to His ultimate sacrifice and the victory He gained over death and the grave, forever taking away our sins, and ushering us into the family of God through faith and trust in Him alone, enabling us to receive the salvation that He came to accomplish. The Lenten season for us will then be a most beneficial and spiritually constructive time in our lives.

A Few Words about True Love

 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.” (rf. I Cor. 13:4-8a ESV)

 

 

            Our culture wants to describe the word “love” in purely emotional or romantic terms. Phrases like “I fell in love with you” and those exhibiting the same overwhelming drive of passion seem only to solidify that view, especially when portrayed in books and films. Yet, unfortunately, that portrait of “love” shows it to be fleeting, solely based on how one feels at the time, fully dependent on the heightened sense of amour at that moment.

            True “love”, at least in the Biblical use of the term, is not in any way connected with the fluctuations of human emotions and feelings. It is rather a conscious, willful decision to “love” the another person in a relational, self-sacrificing fashion. Scriptural “love” always operates contrary to normal human behavior (though we like to think otherwise about ourselves). 

            Notice the Apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian Christians shares the following qualities about true “love”. These attributes of “love” are not things that we readily nor easily exhibit but are actions that are supernaturally energized and originated.

 

1.     Love exhibits itself in being “patient” and shows itself in kindness.

2.     Love allows no place for pride, self-centeredness, selfishness or ambition; it discloses itself in humility (i.e. “does not envy or boast…is not arrogant or rude…does not insist on its own way”).

3.     Love always treats others with respect and generosity (i.e. “it is not irritable or resentful”).

4.     Love does not vaunt itself over the misdoings or mistakes of those around, building up itself at the expense of others, but instead upholds, supports and “rejoices with the truth”.

5.     Love purposefully chooses to remain secured despite the circumstances in which it is placed, holding on long after whatever it faces (i.e. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…”).

 

If we are to “love” as the Bible teaches, then we must tap into the very Source of “love”, God Himself (rf. I Jn. 4:16). He alone provides us the wherewithal to be able to “love” as He loves. True “love” is beyond both our own comprehension and natural ability to accomplish.

            Thus, if we have a relationship with God (Who is love) through Jesus Christ, His Son, then we are capable of engaging in Biblical “love” with others. If that relationship with God is not in place, there is no possible way we can “love” others as the term is meant to be used. Our best efforts will always fall short of His high standard.