Verse of the Day - Hebrews 2:18

[Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted. Now he is able to help others who are being tempted. ~ Hebrews 2:18 (NIrV)

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I think sometimes we forget Jesus' humanity. I think sometimes we think that, although Jesus was tempted on earth, it was a 'walk in the park' for Him. As if He didn't even give temptation a second glance. But God's Word says He suffered when He was tempted. Suffered...

Though He had no sin, He suffered when temptation stared Him in the face. Though He never buckled to the pressure of sin's enticement, He suffered the tug-of-war that we all endure when sin comes a-callin'. He knows what it's like to fight the inner battle between knowing what the right thing to do is, yet feeling the urge to give in to the wrong.

And God's Word also says that, not only do we have someone who can sympathize with us in our spiritual battles, but we have someone who can help us! As He overcame the world (John 16:33), He can help us overcome the world, too. So, how does He do that? How does He help us fight the spiritual battles of temptation?

Well, let me tell you how He doesn't do it. He doesn't help us by us just sitting on our thumbs and not lifting a spiritual finger to help ourselves. I realize that "God helps those who help themselves..." isn't in the Bible, but the reality is that our spiritual walk is a two-way relationship, and we do have personal responsibility for our growth. If you don't water a plant, it dies. And the same is true for your spiritual life. Don't expect God to just minimize or evaporate the temptations in your life, or somehow give you superhuman spiritual strength in your temptations if you aren't participating in your strength processes. Are you staying in communication with God through prayer daily, seeking His counsel and listening to His wisdom? Are you in His Word daily, allowing the Holy Spirit to minister truth to your soul? If not, you're like a person who goes to the gym for a workout and then stands on the treadmill, expecting it to do all the work. (btw, have you ever seen video of someone getting whisked off a treadmill, blown off because they didn't move their legs -- didn't do their part? It's kinda funny, but sobering when you put it in the spiritual perspective...)

With Jesus, we have a sympathetic helper with the temptations we face -- without Him, we're up a creek without a paddle. We're simply foolish not to run to Him for help, and run with Him for growth.

Love,
Joelene