Today is the first Sunday of Lent. Since I "went into the business" Lent for me has always been about taking on additional activities, events, services, studies, etc. For other people, it is more often about giving something up. Yo says she is giving up meat for Lent. That's quite a commitment.
I heard two sermons by the senior pastor this morning on the text for today, Jesus' temptation in the desert. Then I led the worship service this afternoon at the Retirement Home. My take on the scripture lesson was a bit different from his. We tend to be pretty close together theologically, with a bit of different focus, based on our life experience.
Time spent in the wilderness seems to be a prerequisite for faith. Faith is born in temptation and testing and struggle. It was certainly true for Jesus and it is equally as true for us. Faith isn't handed to us on a silver platter. We acquire it by making the right choices, and staying on
the right path. When we are put to the test and are faithful, we grow in faith, wisdom and strength. Yielding to temptation often means taking the easy way out.
Though me may want to be delivered from temptation, many of us still want to keep in touch!
Why is it that opportunity knocks only once, but temptation bangs on the door all the time?
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