First blog entry in over a year...
I was reading Luke 4:12, where the devil departed from tempting Jesus "until an opportune time." This is important to remember... that the devil is always looking for an opportune time. Because you have resisted him once (James 4:7), that doesn't mean he won't be back in the near future, as he is always on the prowl looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Interesting that both James 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:6-8 talk about humility just before they talk about resisting the devil... reminds me too of what I once heard someone say in a talk: The devil demanded to sift the apostles as wheat (Luke 22:31), which happened immediately after the argument about who was to be the greatest. And the "you" used in that verse is the plural one, probably meaning those involved in the conversation. The devil seized the opportunity where they were trying to be great in order to demand to have his way with them. And Jesus doesn't say, "I have prayed for you so he can't have you," because he knew the devil had a right to demand what what he was demanding. Instead Jesus said, "I have prayed for you [singular] that your [singular] faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (ESV). Jesus prayed specifically for Peter, the rock, that he would make it through this trial, then lead his brothers through it as well. And the greatest trial of their lives was just about to begin 14 verses later.
Here's my point (sometimes in my rambling I forget to get back there): If we are being severely tempted by the devil, let's resist him, but not forgot to ensure or confess that there be no seed of pride in us.
P.S., If you want more of my thoughts on Luke 22:31, read on.
It's interesting that the devil demanded (Greek: exētēsato) to sift Peter & the apostles as wheat. He had a right to do that. According to most modern translations, Jesus says that he prayed for Peter's recovery, yet the word used in Greek is "edeēthēn," which is not the word used for prayer anywhere else. Its only other usage is in Luke 9:40 where the man begged the disciples to cast the demon out of his son, but they were unable to. This tells me that the devil had a right to demand Peter and the apostles' sifting, and Jesus did not necessarily have a right to have his petition answered, at least not in the same way.
So it is a mercy for God to restore us after we have failed, not his duty.
I was reading Luke 4:12, where the devil departed from tempting Jesus "until an opportune time." This is important to remember... that the devil is always looking for an opportune time. Because you have resisted him once (James 4:7), that doesn't mean he won't be back in the near future, as he is always on the prowl looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Interesting that both James 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:6-8 talk about humility just before they talk about resisting the devil... reminds me too of what I once heard someone say in a talk: The devil demanded to sift the apostles as wheat (Luke 22:31), which happened immediately after the argument about who was to be the greatest. And the "you" used in that verse is the plural one, probably meaning those involved in the conversation. The devil seized the opportunity where they were trying to be great in order to demand to have his way with them. And Jesus doesn't say, "I have prayed for you so he can't have you," because he knew the devil had a right to demand what what he was demanding. Instead Jesus said, "I have prayed for you [singular] that your [singular] faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (ESV). Jesus prayed specifically for Peter, the rock, that he would make it through this trial, then lead his brothers through it as well. And the greatest trial of their lives was just about to begin 14 verses later.
Here's my point (sometimes in my rambling I forget to get back there): If we are being severely tempted by the devil, let's resist him, but not forgot to ensure or confess that there be no seed of pride in us.
P.S., If you want more of my thoughts on Luke 22:31, read on.
It's interesting that the devil demanded (Greek: exētēsato) to sift Peter & the apostles as wheat. He had a right to do that. According to most modern translations, Jesus says that he prayed for Peter's recovery, yet the word used in Greek is "edeēthēn," which is not the word used for prayer anywhere else. Its only other usage is in Luke 9:40 where the man begged the disciples to cast the demon out of his son, but they were unable to. This tells me that the devil had a right to demand Peter and the apostles' sifting, and Jesus did not necessarily have a right to have his petition answered, at least not in the same way.
So it is a mercy for God to restore us after we have failed, not his duty.
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