Friday, December 6, 2002

Finally, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on top of the temple. The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: God will tell his angels to take care of you. The will catch you in their arms, and you will not hurt the feet on the stones." Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, 'Don't try to test the Lord your God!' " Luke 4: 9-12

Jesus was just beginning his ministry. This last reported test, the test of Jesus' own faith must be resolved before he can commence his journey. You may think you know who you are but are you really sure of God? Are you really sure God will support you and love you as a son? The devil is quick to point out that Jesus can easily make certain that God is with him, that he is indeed God's Son.

How many times have each of us, in reacting to a bad or painful situation in our lives, lamented, "God, if you're with me give me a sign!" We look for confirmation of God's presence, of his support for we don't want to feel alone and helpless. Jesus' response to the devil exhorts him not to demand that evidence. And that message is ours as well. We live today in a quick fix, on-the-spot culture; give me a clue now, God that you're around and I'll be able to make it through this.

The test of faith is the most difficult of all. To live one's life remaining constant in the knowledge that God is in all things, including me, and the teen and her baby who ends up in the dumpster, and the man who abuses his wife, and the woman serving coffee at McDonalds and the members of the Taliban A person wonders. Don't test it, says Jesus, God's presence and love is a "given," it simply is! He seems to indicate that to ask for a demonstration is itself an act of faithlessness and disbelief.

As followers of Jesus, constant faith may be the greatest challenge we have but God blesses us with His love in meeting those challenges, forgiving us when we fail the test.

Claudia Stine


All contents copyright 2002 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.