SEP 14

Matthew 27:39-44
Memorise 1 Corinthians 10:13
“…but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above…”

The crucifixion was public, for all to see. The enemies of Christ did not waste the opportunity to afflict Christ with what they could this final time. Passersby insulted Christ and shook their heads in contempt and scorn. They, along with those who were directly involved in Christ’s sentence mocked Him with taunts that questioned His deity as the Son of God. They called Jesus a liar. If He was who He said He was, He would be able to come down from the cross! They claimed that if Jesus really did come down, they would believe him. Of course they never really meant it, but were just making jibes at Him. They joked at his expense: He could save others, but could not save Himself. They also attacked and questioned Christ’s faith in the Father. If He had faith, then why didn’t the Father save Him? The thieves too, joined in to complete the derision from all fronts. How alone and ridiculed Christ was when He was hanging on the cross. Would any of His followers and those who loved Him have dared to step forward and defend Him? Did anyone go to the cross to encourage Him? Hardly. His agony and relentless persecution had begun earlier with His arrest, at His trial before the Jews, and then before Pilate. He had been beaten and spat upon numerous times. He was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted prior to the actual crucifixion. As He hung on the cross in unimaginable physically agony, He sustained all these further afflictions. It was well within His power to let Himself down from the cross, yet He chose not to. He could have cried out to the Father to free Him, yet He did not. 

To endure temptation is not to succumb at all. Enduring is not going 99% and then giving in to temptation. It’s 100%, all or nothing. In light of Christ’s perfect example, how enduring do you think your faith is when tempted? We do not truly know how strong or weak our faith is until it is tested. Each and every trial and test in our life is a test of our faith, which over time builds endurance. There’s no short cut to gaining endurance, it comes with ‘training’. What are the things that tempt your faith? Is it fear of man? Is it physical pain and bodily affliction? Is it loss of material possessions or status? Or is it the loss of the regard by family and friends? All of us have differing aspects of our faith which we are weak in. To identify and acknowledge the ‘weak spots’ also helps us work on these weaknesses so that our faith will be more enduring. We also know for every temptation, there is a way out. It is not easy to walk this path, but we must persevere in faith, knowing that the Lord will always see us through.

Thought: Do you think you have an enduring faith?
Prayer: May I have a faith that grows with each passing day.