February 13, 2005

First Sunday of Lent

Matthew 4:1-11

“A Devil of a Time”

     What does a person mean when they say they’re having a “devil of a time”?  It can mean they are facing some really difficult decisions about some very challenging things.  Like a lot of modern expressions, this one has ancient roots, going all the way back to the Hebrew Scriptures and the story of Job and probably to Matthew’s Gospel, too.

     Jesus was facing a great challenge and some very difficult decisions.  The story of his 40-day sojourn in the wilderness gave shape to our 40-day observance of Lent.  He fasted for 40 days and while that might not be a very healthy thing for us to do, some people today continue to remember Christ’s sacrifice by giving up at least something for Lent.  For me, it’s usually chocolate.  And I have to tell you, I messed up on the very first day.  It was a chocolate accident and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

     Of course, we don’t have to give up things for Lent, but we do need to let go of things if they inhibit our availability to God.  That’s because when all our needs are satisfied, we can feel we don’t have much need for God.  We can lose sight of God.  And when we are faced with really challenging decisions, really difficult decisions, we can lose our way and be lost in that wilderness.

     It’s human to be basically self-serving.  It’s probably an inherited survival instinct.  But how sad it is if this is all there is to our lives.  How sad it is if we refuse to see that bigger and better picture God is trying to open up before us.  To quote C. S. Lewis, “When people are looking down at people and things, they cannot see that which is above them.”  Letting go of self-centeredness means looking up and being open to God’s lead.

     Jesus went into the wilderness just after his baptism and just before his ministry began.  He went there to let go of things so his heart and mind could be free to listen to God.  While he was there, he had some of the same kinds of struggles and temptations we all have when faced with really difficult decisions in our lives.  According to the writer of Matthew, for Jesus, these internal struggles took the form of a devil.  But no matter what form they take for us, they are the same issues, and they revolve around the same central question: Do we play God and try to take God’s place, or do we let go and let God guide our lives?

     “Turn these stones into bread … make the angels carry you … grab the kingdoms of the earth for yourself.”  Take control, take power, rule your own destiny, give in to selfish hungers and forget about God.  So Jesus had choices to make about the direction he would go in life.  His response?…”One does not live by bread alone … Do not put God to the test … Worship and serve God only.”  Then all that devilled him went away.

     Much of the hurt and suffering we know in life is the result of people making wrong choices, selfish choices.  We struggle to do the right thing and we don’t always get it right.  But isn’t it good to know that Jesus understands because he faced the same challenges in his life?  Indeed, when he realized people couldn’t ever completely shake the selfishness that devilled them, he went to the cross, as the Scriptures say, “for the sins of the world”.  He gave everything up again to reveal God’s will for not only his life, but ours as well.  And God’s will is forgiveness.

     When we celebrated Shavaughn’s baptism this morning, we didn’t promise him he would never face challenging circumstances or difficult decisions.  We didn’t promise him he could enjoy a life free of selfishness.  Indeed, he will have to deal with some of the same kinds of struggles and issues we all deal with, that’s part of living in God’s creation that allows free will.  But we did promise him this – Jesus understands, accepts him as he is and will always love him.  And if he’ll trust Jesus, Jesus will reveal God to him, the Holy One who will always be with him.

     The same promise is made to each of us as we face life’s challenges, when we have big decisions to make.  Assured by our salvation in Christ, we can have the confidence and vision to make the right decisions, to let go and let God guide our living.

     Do you remember the hymn?…

“Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but thou art mighty – hold me with thy powerful hand:

Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more,

feed me till I want no more.”