Lent 1 (2)

Today we deal with the topic of temptation. Those who have freedom are much more likely to have to deal with temptation than those who have no choices. We are free. We have a myriad of choices.

We can choose what time we are going to wake up in the morning and what it is that is going to wake us up. Will it be the traditional alarm clock, an alarm set on our phone, or the sun shining in our eyes? We have choices on what we will eat for breakfast and where. (To some extent. You can’t choose to order grits at the Marshfield Family Restaurant). We choose what we are going to wear, what we will use for transportation, choices for work, education, recreation, hobbies, music we listen to, etc.

Even within our congregation we have choices. As the worship leader, I get to choose what liturgy we will use, what hymns we will sing, what our readings will be (although I have a guide), which lesson I will preach on, etc. And that is just the worship service. A congregation has many other choices to make as well in regard to its ministry plan regarding worship, education, outreach, etc.

One of the great blessings we have in our nation is that we are allowed and encouraged to make choices. It is benefit of freedom. Those who live in a system where other makes choices for them can find if very difficult to decide for themselves what course of action they will take. Perhaps we can related to how as children our choices were limited by our parents because they realized that we did not have the necessary tools to make good choices. As they raised us to become responsible adults, hopefully they guided us in learning how to make God-pleasing choices for ourselves and for others.

The event we review today in the life of Jesus teaches us how Jesus made the proper choices at a critical transition in his life. He responds to the temptations of the devil by choosing to follow his father’s plan. In doing so he fulfills God’s plan and teaches us to . . .

Respond to Temptation by Choosing to Follow God’s Plan

Context: We don’t know much about the first 30 years of Jesus’ life on earth. His birth is well known and celebrated every year. We know about the trip to Jerusalem when he was 12. The rest is summarized quite succintly. (passages) Now he is anointed at his baptism to begin his public ministry. But before he embarks on this journey, he is led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness for a time of reflection and planning. He knew what the mission was and would often refer to it (passages on my Father’s will). But since