March 13
Beloved of Good Shepherd Church,
Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Don’t take the bait. Jesus didn’t.
I am thinking about the temptation scene in Luke’s Gospel in which the adversary, the devil, tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He offered Jesus power and control, all manner of accolades, and the means to survive in the wilderness entirely on his own. Jesus said, “No.” He didn’t take the bait. You see, Jesus knows that when a person gets the sort of things that the devil was offering all that happens is soon enough you just want more. Get a little power and in no time you just want more power. Get one person to like you and tell you how great you are and in no time the shine will wear off of that compliment and you’ll feel the need for another. Everything that the devil has to offer will only feed your hunger for more. Don’t take the bait.
Jesus responded to each temptation by turning to God indicating that God alone can give the lasting, self sustaining gift for which all humanity hungers. That is, a felt sense of unconditional, saving, healing love.
Don’t take the bait is a good Lenten mantra. What in your life do you reach for in spite of the fact that you know it won’t do the trick? Maybe it is a material thing, but it could be that your mind often goes to a negative place tempted by the strange satisfaction that gossip, argument, and registering your opinion gives you. That manner of temptation certainly rises up before me sometimes! Jesus models for us how to turn to God when temptation arises. Don’t take the bait, instead say something like this, “God, I know that the only source of true happiness is in my full dependence on your love. Show me a pathway in this moment into the peace that surpasses all understanding. Help me to not take the bait. Amen.”
The best news I know is that you are not on this journey alone. We are all in this together! Tell a friend how you usually take the bait, then tell them that for Lent you’re going to try turning to God instead. Sharing what you’re going to try to do with a trusted friend will mysteriously strengthen your resolve for your 40 day discipline. Don’t take the bait.
Buy a pillow instead. We are collecting 200 pillows for the Chrysalis House during Lent. The Chrysalis House is a local residential treatment program for women with substance use disorders. Find out more HERE.
Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!
Love is all,
Hendree+