Momentum For Monday, October 24th 2022
"…where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry." (Luke 4:1)
The strongest emotion besides love is perhaps desire. Desire can display itself in many forms, both physical and non-physical. Desire itself should not be taken in absolutes of either negative or positive, but understood as a whole.
In a negative sense scripturally, desire is also called lust (sensual cravings outside of the parameters of the blessing and safety of holiness). The positive idea is that of God desiring good things for his children. In a more natural state, it is can be demonstrated as hunger. In general, it is understood as a craving, wish, or longing.
It is natural to have desires, you're human. I believe that desire was a part of our divine design from God from the beginning . But the Fall in Genesis opened the door for desire to be manipulated for evil. Today, we have the blessing to transform our desires into a benefit in our relationship to God and others, or a detriment. It's how you handle desire that matters.
Satan's desire was power and it cost him heaven. Adam and Eve's desire was knowledge of good and evil and it cost them Eden. For Esau, he was simply hungry for food (stew to be exact) and it cost him his birthright to his brother Jacob. While the compulsion for every desire is to fulfill something for yourself, here's a surety, compromising what you know to be right for an unfulfilled desire will cost you.
The best person we will ever see handle and overcome desire is Jesus. He did it in the wilderness when he fasted for forty days. That little phrase of Jesus being hungry is not something to be skipped over or counted as obvious, the man was hungry. I get crotchety if I don't eat within a certain point in the day, let alone forty days. Can you imagine? Then here comes Satan tempting him with everything a person could ever want.
The mind is connected to hunger ya know. The longer you go without something you're craving, the more you tend to act out and convince yourself to obtain it- no matter what the compromise or how big the lie is. Deep cravings start to feel like depravity, and you’ll convince yourself out of desperation that you have to have it, whatever it is. As an old mentor often said, “A hungry need is a dangerous need.” And Jesus, as hungry as he was, fought off the temptations every single time.
You could shrug off this accomplishment by saying, "Of course he passed the test, He's Jesus." But I can assure you that after forty days of not eating, we are seeing a very human, weak side of Jesus. The key to his victory is found in Luke 4:1, "…Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit…". And the best part- you and I have the same opportunity to overcome because we have access to the same Holy Spirit.
So, in the case of Esau, what’s your stew? What are you deeply longing for that you’ll cut corners to get? Be encouraged to know that you are well-equipped to handle whatever it is. Jesus assured us that we that believe could do greater things than he did (John 14:12). If you've struggled with some very daunting desires or wishes, lean into the Holy Spirit for help. One last thought- maybe it’s God that is the only one that can fulfill the desire you need?
"But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]."
(Galatians 5:16)