You Need A Word

Luke 4:1-13 NRSV

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”  Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,  ‘Worship the Lord your God,  and serve only him.’ ”  Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,  ‘He will command his angels concerning you,  to protect you,’  and  ‘On their hands they will bear you up,  so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”  Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.”

We know the story of Jesus taken by Holy Spirit  to the wilderness. Satan’s temps with physical needs, power & fame, and by testing God. But each time he tempted Jesus, Jesus answered with scripture. We need a word to keep us when crazy happens. To hold us when temptations come. We need a word to hold in our heart. 

I have always been stuck in that last sentence. “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.” 

Temptations will come and we can succeed because Jesus did. We suceded with a word. We need a word in our heart, a word for that situation. “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I may not sin against you.”

When studying Hebrew in seminary, we studied the passage, Isaiah 58:9 , “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.” Now in Hebrew the word “Hanai” takes on a grander meaning. It’s not just ‘here I am’ it’s “Behold me.” How powerful is that? No one can say that but God. Behold me! 

With that knowledge and a word that is in our heart, we will stand, as we are standing on God’s word and with him having our back. Get a word! enough for now.