CHRISTmas Is Victory - December 16 Readings: Luke 4:1-13

 

 

25 Days of Christmas

On the sixteenth day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...Jesus defeated the sin that defeated Adam and Eve. 

Today's Reading:  Luke 4:1-13           

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,

and him only shall you serve.’”

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

to guard you,’

11 and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

 

Through the Bible Readings: Micah 5-7, Revelation 3–4, Psalm 143:1–3, Proverbs30:24–28 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: Jesus Won       

People say a lot of foolish things, especially about sin. Pastors and church leaders who fall into sin sometimes say that their moral and spiritual failure has actually made them better as spiritual leaders. That is ridiculous and unbiblical.

When infomercials first hit it big, there was one lady selling a program offering help with relationships and marriage. She claimed she could help us build better homes, better families, stronger, longer-lasting marriages. Then the truth came out - she had been married five times. She claimed it was these failures that made her so wise. Baloney!

I don't want a failure teaching me, but a success. You don't go to a smoker to learn how to quit. You don't ask a 400-pound person how to lose weight. Jesus is a great Savior and a great Lord, not because he was a failure but because when tempted he stood strong. When Satan came he sent him packing with the word and the power of the Spirit.

Too often, what we want is someone to sympathize with our failings. "There, there, it's okay. We all fail." Jesus is loving, sympathetic, kind, and compassionate. Yes. But he can go one step further. He beat sin. He defeated it when tempted and he defeated it ultimately and eternally at the cross! He doesn't just pat you on the back about your failures, he transforms you to walk in victory.

Whatever you have been, in Christ you are destined for better. Because he succeeded where humanity failed, he can be our Wonderful Counselor. He can empower us to break free from the grip of sin and live in his righteousness. 

It was because Jesus was tested and tried in the desert that he was ready to walk in power. Luke 4:14 tells us that Jesus headed into the area of Galilee to begin his public ministry, full of the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The baby of Bethlehem not only battled the enemy but utterly defeated him. The lies Satan told to Adam and Eve fell short against Jesus. Jesus said no to sin and yes to God. 

Father, I thank you for a Savior who was tempted as I am, yet without sin! I thank you for a victorious Lord who gives me hope. 

Think and Pray :

Have you "made peace" with your sin? Remember that Jesus Christ came and died to destroy it!

Consider how these sins are tempting you now:

• The lust of the flesh - fulfilling the body's desires in ungodly ways. 
• The lust of the eyes - living for the things of this world. 
• The pride of life - living for myself. 

Remember that in Christ, we have victory over these temptations!

Carol of the Day: 

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,  

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.  

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,    

Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.    

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,    

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.    

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!    

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;      

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.