Foretaste of Four Test

Meditation from Luke Chapter 4

The tests that Jesus went through teach us valuable lessons to overcome those tests. Every test is pertaining to our Identity & Purpose in Christ.

Test 1: From the Devil

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God… (Luke 4:3)

The devil tested Jesus on His identity and purpose (4:6,9). In overcoming these Jesus shows three necessities for us to overcome tests & temptations in our life – Word, Worship & Work (Serving God).

Everyday reading & meditation of the Word, daily Worship & prayer and committedly Working to serve Him are keys to overcome temptations of the devil.

Test 2: From the People

They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” (4:22)

We go through this test of our identity & purpose when people look at us and judge us through our past and parentage (background). If we don’t overcome this we will resign to our past failures and background barriers. How did Jesus overcome this?

Just a few verses back we see Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to…” (4:18). He quotes from the Scriptures and shares about the Spirit’s anointing on Him.

Whenever we go through such tests, which could cause doubt within us, we need to go to the Scripture and read & remind ourselves of what God has said about us and need to increase the Spirit’s anointing through a Spirit-filled life (4:14).

Test 3: From the Ministry / Work

I know who you are, the Holy One of God. (4:34)

This is an instance of success in Jesus’ ministry and yet he orders him to ‘be silent’ (4:35). Just a few verses back we read that the people were so raged that they drove him out of the town and tried to push him off the cliff; but silently Jesus moved from there (4:29,30).

This is a test of how do we face success and failure / rejection. Jesus was neither elated at the success nor discouraged at the rejection. Neither success nor rejection defines our identity or purpose, but God does!

Test 4: From the Self

I was sent for this purpose. (4:43)

In every place Jesus went people were amazed at his teaching (4:15,22,36) and every place had success & need. But Jesus was not taken away by these parameters, but was focused on the Purpose of God for which He came.

We need to overcome this test within ourselves and should not yield to every seemingly good places & desires, but should yield only to the will & purpose of God. If we yield ourselves to every person & place, we cannot fulfill God’s purpose.

Let us overcome these tests & temptations with a Strong resolve, by the Scripture’s guidance and with the Spirit’s help.

Pleasing God

Meditation from Luke Chapter 3

We are called to live a life pleasing to God and in this chapter we learn the signs of pleasing God through the life of John, Jesus & the People.

1.      John

Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests, but the word of God came to John; they were in the temple and the word of God came to John who was in the wilderness (Luke 3:2).

We live a pleasing life to God, wherever we are, by living according to the calling in which He has called us. The one who lives with indifference to his ‘call’ cannot please God.

Secondly, the word of God came to John to proclaim the good news of repentance. The high priests were caught up with “religious” matters that God could not entrust them with His message. We cannot please God if we live with indifference to the people who are living in sin and without knowing the gospel.

2.      People

When John preaches repentance there are two responses. These responses show whether we truly “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (3:8).

a)      Position or Background or Identity: These can be a barrier in truly repenting. That’s why John tells the people who come to him, “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’…” (3:8).

When John pointed his sin to Herod, he could not repent and showed his position and authority (3:19).

b)      Response to Correction: The crowd, tax collectors and soldiers asked John, ‘What then should we do?’ (3:10,12,14). This shows the willingness to repent and change.

But Herod did not want to heed to John’s correction, so he ‘shut him up in prison’ (3:20).

When corrected do we heed and change or do we want to shut up the person who corrects, will show whether we are truly pleasing God or not.

c)      Acts of Repentance: John responds to the question of the people on what they should do and to summarize this is what he says – Share and be Satisfied (3:11,14). A heart of sharing our things with others in need and to be satisfied with what we have are acts of repentance.

3.      Jesus

When Jesus was baptized and was praying, a voice comes from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased”. (3:22).

We can please God only when we live constantly with the awareness & desire to please God, in everything and to please God according to His expectations.

Let’s always strive to live a life pleasing to God by living according to God’s call in our life, by having a true heart of repentance and by desiring to please God always in everything.