For some, when they became followers of Jesus, everything became much better while for others, all hell seemed to break loose.
I guess many of us fall in between that: great and blissful for the most part, till the testing comes.
This is nothing new. The test always comes because of the revelation of God's word you receive (Luke8:11-15). In fact even now, the moment I get a revelation of truth from the Lord is the moment I get tempted the most in line with that truth.
Right from the beginning, the temptation was to make you question the integrity of God's word. What God tells us unveils (revels) his mind and will. Satan's challenge to the first humans was, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?" Genesis 3:1 ESV. The question offered man the opportunity to doubt. This opportunity to doubt or stand on the integrity of God's word continues in every generation; Patriarchs of faith - Abraham, Isaacs, Jacob, the Judges and right up to the Apostles Peter and Thomas had to contend with it.
This test was faced by our Lord Jesus Christ as well. In fact, Matthew 4:1 reveals something very surprising:
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil".
Here we see that the Holy spirit actually led Jesus Christ into his place of testing. [Note however, that the temptation did not come from the Lord but rather was allowed by the Lord].
God-the-Father had just said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17a ESV)
Then the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Matthew 4: 3 ESV
This and verse 5 show a temptation to prove himself to be what God has already said he was. It was as usual, a test to either rest in the integrity of God's declaration and revelation or not to.
In this same way, every man, leader or not, will face the same challenge: be 'still' resting in God's word or live focused on your circumstances, ability or righteousness. The bible says we are not unaware of the wiles of the evil one. His tricks don't change, it's the same pattern repeated over time.
Our temptation right now is whether to believe and stand in the integrity of Jesus - the very word-of-God and embodiment of the Father, Son and Holy spirit (Godhead), or stand in our own strength, wisdom or goodness. [Colossians 2:9]
Here is his one of Jesus' declarations: "People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. But people who do not believe are already judged, because they have not believed in God’s only Son." John 3:18 ERV
The temptation here could be: "has God said you are not guilty?"
If you believe in Jesus you are declared not guilty! Will you, however, believe others, your experience, opinion or God's word?
But the Paul let's us know that "just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:21 NLT
So as you and I hold ourselves accountable for growing up to the full measure of Christ, we must never forget that our greatest trial is not about measuring up to moral perfection, but rather remaining dependant on the assurance of our right-standing as a gift unearned, and confident in the integrity of Christ and his grace at work in us.
"But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." Romans 11:6 ESV
But,
It takes humility to trust in someone other than yourself.
It takes humility to accept that your place in his presence and that of others has nothing to do with personal righteousness but with Christ's righteousness.
It takes humility to love others and accept that you are loved unconditionally.
It takes humility to know that nothing you do for God is possible (or acceptable) except by his Holy spirit's power.
It takes humility to rely only on the grace of God extended to us by Jesus Christ.
Yesterday's failure doesn't define you. Neither does it mean you'll fail today. The Holy spirit helps us learn our lessons. He corrects and helps us correct our mistakes. He is a very present help in time of need, our Standby, comforter and counsellor. He enforces what Christ has purchased for us: sonship, access without condemnation and eternal life! Romans 8:1,16, John 14:16, 26, Isaiah 30:21,
So give Christ a chance to be your sanctification. And give yourself and others the grace to move forward and be better - unhindered. We no longer have to earn our place. We all have nothing to prove.
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"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—" Philippians 3:7, 9 ESV
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