(I’m taking a few days off and decided to repost some of the more well-received “More Than Useless” posts. See you next week!)

Father, as I come before You this morning, may my thoughts be under Your direction. May I focus on You. Speak to me, that I may be blessed and be a blessing as well. Amen.

Matthew 4:1-11 (<<click the green)

As we were leaving my sister’s place this past weekend a Yellowjacket paid us a visit. First, it was flying around my wife, then around me, then around my mom. He was an unwanted visitor. Each of us tried walking away but until it decided to move on, it buzzed around incessantly. None of us were stung but that possibility was there.

The word I would place beside the word “temptation” is “ugh”. And in this fallen world, much like our unwanted visitor, it just won’t leave us alone. Just thinking of temptation makes me groan.

Now nobody in their right mind would entertain a Yellow jacket’s presence. When we see one in our vicinity, most of us would high-tail it out of there. And most certainly, we wouldn’t get so up close and personal that we would welcome its sting…but isn’t that what we do with temptation?

We all know what temptation is. We all know what temptation does. But each of us, on a regular basis lays out the welcome mat for it. Many times we say “no”, and many times we do run away, but it seems like inevitably there comes a time when we yield.

Looking at Your response to temptation, Lord, it seems the big difference is that You were prepared for the attack. You were never caught unawares. When the tempter laid out his enticements – no matter how enticing – You shot it down with Scripture.

Hebrews 4:15 tells me that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”

You know. You’ve been there. May I learn from You, Lord. May I be prepared for all the wily ways of temptation. May I stand strong in You, armed with You Word, when it comes my way. Amen.

Oct 3rd, 2017, Tues, 6:33 am