Coffee With The Lord

Here’s a BIG word for you at the beginning of 2021… “paradigmatic!” It refers to something that creates a pattern of behavior, something that is a model, or something that is exemplary.

Here’s how I’m using it… the way Jesus resisted and overcame temptation is “paradigmatic” for us in overcoming our temptations! The passage that prompted this reflection in “coffee with the Lord” is Matthew 4:1-11.Right after Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, followed by the Heavenly Father’s endorsement of who He was (“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”), Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness” where He was “tempted by the Devil!”

Have you ever faced temptation? I have… and so did Jesus! In fact, in many ways His temptation and how He overcame it is “paradigmatic” for us in the temptations we face! Let me suggest several ways…

1. The temptation Jesus faced was, first of all, an attack on His identity! Satan began this way… “If you are the Son of God…” (and He did that twice in two temptations). Often the temptations we face are an assault on our identity “in Christ!” We really need to know who we are “in Christ” in order to overcome the Satanic assault.

2. Jesus used God’s word to overcome the temptation! His response to the temptation (and the Tempter) was, “It is written…” Jesus, our example, did not use Scripture like some kind of a “spiritual rabbit’s foot” – He had internalized it’s message so completely it was the expression of His character, His values, and His core beliefs! It expressed who He was… the Word of God (John 1:1) And for us in temptation, God’s word needs to be more than a “spiritual rabbit’s foot” – it must be an authentic, inner core part of our belief and values – used with faith as a spiritual weapon.

3. Jesus also used (perhaps better “asserted”) His divine authority when tempted by the enemy! He spoke directly to the devil and said, “Away with you Satan!” And our authority “in Christ” when we face temptation is no less powerful! We must not take Satanic assaults “sitting down!” Scripture assures us, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!” (1 John 4:4) And we are urged, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!” (James 4:7)

Believe me, using Jesus as my example, I am determined NOT to take temptations “sitting down!” I’ll depend on the Lord to provide the strength, the sense of identity (and authority I need), and remind me of the truth of Scripture needed to resist temptation and the Tempter! Let me say it again… the way Jesus overcame temptation is “paradigmatic!”

Quite a number of you have noticed that I have used the pic/logo for the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan to introduce my “Coffee with the Lord” posts at the beginning of this year. I did that to emphasize I would be drawing my devotional posts/reflections from the passages in the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan I developed. I just wanted you to know that I will continue developing devotional posts from the “Necessary Food” Bible reading passages in “Coffee with the Lord” but will not continue using the pic/logo every day.

If you have not gotten the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan pdf file for your Bible reading this year you may download it here…

Here are the passages for January 6 in the Necessary Food Bible reading plan:  Genesis 6:1-7:24; Job 3:1-26; Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 3:13-17; and Romans 2:12-29.  Today I chose the passage in Genesis to comment on…

Left to ourselves – left to our own inclinations and inner impulses – what happens to humankind?  The Noah story in the Bible tells us… “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5 ESV)  The power of sin – The evil infection of the human species – the impact of “the fall” upon us all has been great and devastating!

But in the midst of all this moral chaos and depravity – when “Every intention of the thoughts of humankind were only evil continually” – a success story!  “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord… Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:8-9 ESV)

I am so impressed (and challenged) by Noah… No Bible – the written word of God!  No weekly church services where he could meet with fellow believers to encourage him and sustain his faith.  No pastor to provide counsel and messages to sustain, guide and foster his faith.  No Christian radio or television.  No worship music to access to inspire and uplift him.  Only evil, pervasive depravity, and temptation all around him and his family!  Evil actions, wicked people, seductive temptation, and perverted behavior everywhere!  But in the midst of it all Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation – He walked with God!

Wow!  It can be done!  God is faithful!  His grace is sufficient!  “He [the Lord] is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy!” (Jude 24)  Noah found ways to sustain his faith!  Here’s his secret on a single phrase of Biblical text… “He walked with God (step-by-step, moment-by-moment, day-by-day)!”  At the outset of this New Year I want to do that… I purpose to do that by God’s grace!  It worked for Noah!