Word@Work 006 - Mark 1:12-13
Published: Mon, 11/19/07
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 1:12-13 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (NIV)
God does many things that are strange to our way of thinking.
After the extraordinary holy public conference of Father, Son and Holy Spirit by the waters of baptism, why should the Spirit 'cast out' Jesus into the desert to meet Satan? (This word is used 58 times for violently expelling demons.) Why should the Spirit need to 'drive out' Jesus to meet His adversary?
If we think that Jesus just came to save sinners, we do not see the big picture. In God's global plan, the devil must also be confronted and defeated: that was Jesus' job too. Yet everything in the character of our Lord was repelled by evil. Small wonder that it took all the energy of the Spirit to move Him from the peace of baptism to confront Satan.
Most Christians in the workplace are surrounded by words, values and actions that will never be found in heaven. The sensitive believer will properly loathe the corruption that is in the world. Escaping from it seems to be the holy option. It is, of course, necessary to treasure Christian fellowship at church or in the Christian Union - but that is not the whole story ...
God deliberately sends us out into a dark world, to be light in the darkness and salt in the dung-pile. Those tasks are morally repugnant to the believer. If God did not drive us to confront the corruption in the world with His Word, we would not even want to do it. If the Spirit's protection was not available, we could not survive: if His powerful Word could not be our sword, we would fail.
Today you are probably surrounded by corruption and temptation - but God has placed you there to be a sign that light does not have to be extinguished by the darkness. Keep shining!!
Prayer: Holy Father, You have placed me here to be a light. I need Your Holy Spirit's powerful presence to keep me here and to help me to stay bright for You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
God does many things that are strange to our way of thinking.
After the extraordinary holy public conference of Father, Son and Holy Spirit by the waters of baptism, why should the Spirit 'cast out' Jesus into the desert to meet Satan? (This word is used 58 times for violently expelling demons.) Why should the Spirit need to 'drive out' Jesus to meet His adversary?
If we think that Jesus just came to save sinners, we do not see the big picture. In God's global plan, the devil must also be confronted and defeated: that was Jesus' job too. Yet everything in the character of our Lord was repelled by evil. Small wonder that it took all the energy of the Spirit to move Him from the peace of baptism to confront Satan.
Most Christians in the workplace are surrounded by words, values and actions that will never be found in heaven. The sensitive believer will properly loathe the corruption that is in the world. Escaping from it seems to be the holy option. It is, of course, necessary to treasure Christian fellowship at church or in the Christian Union - but that is not the whole story ...
God deliberately sends us out into a dark world, to be light in the darkness and salt in the dung-pile. Those tasks are morally repugnant to the believer. If God did not drive us to confront the corruption in the world with His Word, we would not even want to do it. If the Spirit's protection was not available, we could not survive: if His powerful Word could not be our sword, we would fail.
Today you are probably surrounded by corruption and temptation - but God has placed you there to be a sign that light does not have to be extinguished by the darkness. Keep shining!!
Prayer: Holy Father, You have placed me here to be a light. I need Your Holy Spirit's powerful presence to keep me here and to help me to stay bright for You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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