Greetings siblings
You may recall that when we began this series, I spoke about the devil coming like a flood at Y’shua Jesus. Today’s Holy Nougat was what caught my attention.
Matthew 22:22-23 CEB
[22] When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed.
[23] That same day, Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Jesus.
Departed… to Come Again
Siblings, verse 22 ends, they departed. And verse 23 begins That same day. I say to you siblings that sometimes it’s as though no time elapses between one trial, one temptation, and the next. Those two phrases took me back to Y’shua’s temptations in the wilderness. In Luke 4, we may recall that after Jesus rebuked the devil, he left him until such time. It says to me that the enemy is always lying in wait to attack us.
Self-Check
Have we ever failed to realize that the event was lying in wait because we’d overcome one temptation already?
Application
The Pharisees and Herodians left, and in the course of the same day, the Sadduces came along. Knowing the Sadduces’ reputation as ones who challenged Y’shua, their arrival is suspect. We are most definitely NOT expecting them to come with words of encouragement.
There are days, weeks, or even seasons, when we have an onslaught of testing. We ought not be surprised since Job faced it while living his ‘best’ life. Y’shua faced it during His ministry years. And no, the devil does not only come attacking when life is good. In fact, when Life is Lifing, we will find that there are temptations coming at us.
When that happens, especially when we’ve given our lives to Jesus, we may need some encouragement. In those moments, I offer to us Isaiah 59:19, which says when the enemy comes at us like a raging flood, the Spirit of the Lord will drive him back. That’s God’s promise to us.
That promise is a guarantee that we’re not alone. Even if it feels that way. God will not forsake us. If you are one of those facing a season of testing, I pray that you don’t lose your praise. I pray you don’t lose your joy. I pray you don’t lose your hope. But I pray instead that you find strength in our God, Who is our Standard. God can, and will allow God’s Spirit to drive the enemy back.
Hold strain. Persevere in prayer. Be steadfast in praise. God’s got you covered.
Point to Ponder
At the lowest point of his life, it is said that Horatio G. Spafford wrote the lyrics of ‘It is Well With My Soul’. What God might there be out of our current/past seasons of testing
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May all we seek be found in Christ
