Jesus Is Baptized and Tempted

Luke 3:1-22; 4:1-13; Psalm 103:1-4; Proverbs 17:28

Jesus has been temped in every way that man has been tempted. How was He able to resist? He had been harassed by satin for 40 days, he was starving and must have been so week, almost to death! It is one of the most amazing accounts of Jesus in the Bible. Sometime I can't resist temptation even on a full stomach, with plenty of rest. Sometimes it is actually the food and laziness that entices me, like a piece of cheese in a mouse trap, I am lead to certain death.

As I reflect on this, I seem acutely aware of how much I don't understand about God's word. I have more questions than answers. Maybe you can help me understand. I ask the question again.

How was he able to resist temptation?

Yes, I know he is Jesus.
Yes, I know He is the Son of God.
Yes, He is God!

But How?

The Bible say's in Luke 3:21-22:
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Yes, of course, the Holy Spirit, that must be it. It goes on to say in Luke 4:1, "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,". Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that lead Jesus to the desert in the first place. But, I still have questions. First of all;

Was this the first time Jesus received the Holy Spirit? The Scripture say's it descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove. Secondly;

If this was the first time Jesus received the Holy Spirit, How was He able to remain sinless for 30 years up to this point?

I know that God's spirit worked different before Jesus ascended to the Father. Again I need your help, so if you don't mind, help me out.

Maybe it was Scripture!!! Jesus was answering satin with verses from His electronic Bible He downloaded to His wireless smart phone! No, wireless communication wasn't that good back then, not to mention no phones. Jesus must have memorized Scripture, and apparently satin had been doing some memorization as well. I wonder, does knowing God's word in your mind and your heart to the point that you use it to resist temptation, and with the help of the Holy Spirit control your actions, have anything to with how Jesus was able to do it?

I know we are not Jesus.
I know we are not the Son of God.
I know we are not God. But,

We are sons of God.
We are Children of God.
We are made in His image.

Here's the last question,
Is it possible we as Christians could resist temptation by living the Scriptures, by being filled by the Holy Spirit in the way that Jesus did? Help me out here!

Rejoice in Jesus,
Todd Ledbetter

Jesus the King Is Born

Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 102:12-15; Proverbs 17:2.

It is good to reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus. We have heard the story so many times in a multitude of ways, ( Sunday School, Christmas programs), But to sit down and reflect on the account that the Bible gives revives my spirit. The amazing circumstances that seemed at first devastating and shameful are reviled as a miraculous blessing to all man kind. It still blows me away how when the Holy Spirit works in our lives, it is unmistakable. My prayer is for me to get out of my way and let the Holy Spirit invade my every thought and action, so that God will be Glorified. God's plans are His, and as a local preacher said in his sermon recently, "God takes responsibility for a life fully devoted to Him", (see Matt 10:16).

Praying for total surrender,
Todd Ledbetter

Faith, Obedience, Wisdom

In today's devotional from Luke 1:39-80; Psalm 102:1-3; Proverbs 17:2, It struck me how faith happens with belief and obedience. The Christ is still in the womb, yet Mary and Elizabeth's faith is strong. In obedience Zacharias receives the Holy Spirit. In the Psalm, David has reviled his understanding and God given wisdom that his days are numbered and he can not continue with out the Lord.

The Proverb sums it up nicely,

WISDOM

Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24

Rejoice in Jesus,

Todd Ledbetter

God's Acceptance Over Human Rejection

God's acceptance over human rejection was the them of today's devotional. How timely considering the circumstances. It makes a world of difference knowing God loves me know matter what. I don't have an anger problem like the devotional speaks of but, rejection can attack in many other ways. Being connected to Christ intimately daily, exposes the beauty of a life lived through Him. Thank you Jesus, I trust in you alone.

Hear is an excerpt from the Max Lucado devotional Upwords, A Love Worth Giving

Rejections are like speed bumps on the road. They come with the journey. You’re going to get cut, dished, dropped, and kicked around. You cannot keep people from rejecting you. But you can keep rejections from enraging you. How? By letting his acceptance compensate for their rejection.

God will load your world with flowers. He hand-delivers a bouquet to your door every day. Open it! Take them! Then, when rejections come, you won’t be left short-petaled.

Rejoice in Jesus,
Todd Ledbetter