For Families

Have you ever had someone DARE you to do something that you didn’t want to do?  Or have you ever been tempted to do something that might break a promise, hurt someone’s feelings, or upset someone?  

This Sunday Lindsay Crouse will read a lesson from the Book of Luke telling about Jesus resisting temptation. 

This story begins right after Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River.  Jesus was filled by God’s spirit and went into the desert to pray and to think about all that had happened. Jesus was in the desert for a very long time, and was without food. After 40 days in the desert he was VERY hungry! 

Jesus was tempted:   “If you are the Son of God, tell this rock to become bread.”

But Jesus said: “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘A person does not live only by eating bread.’

The devil took Jesus to the top of a mountain and showed him the world all around him.  The devil said to Jesus, “You can have power over all you can see and power over them.  It has all been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.  If you worship me, all will be yours.”

Jesus answered:  “You must worship the Lord your God. Serve only God!’”

Then Jesus was  led to Jerusalem to a  high place on the great Temple.  The Devil said: “If you are the Son of God, jump off!  The Psalms of David tell us  ‘He has put his angels in charge of you, and they will watch over you.’ ‘They will catch you with their hands.  And you will not hit your foot on a rock.’

Jesus answered, “But it also says in the Scriptures: ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’”

After the devil had tempted Jesus in every way, he went away to wait until a better time.

It can be hard to resist something that tempts you if it sounds exciting or will make you feel important. Sometimes we are like George the dog in this story: Oh No George!!   We have to remember to think first!   Each of us makes decisions every day, about how we will spend our time and how we treat others. We make decisions about how we treat our friends, or the people we meet in school, and how we treat people who are sad or scared.

There are days when WE are scared- days that  leave us worried and afraid.  On those days we can find comfort in our the people we love, who love us and care for us. We can be comforted by our friends.  And we can sit quietly and listen – to God and to the sounds of the world around us. We can trust that God and those who love God will take away our fear. 

On Sunday the congregation will sing “On Eagle’s Wings” – which is based Psalm 91.  You may have heard about the war in Ukraine. Psalm 91 is known as  “The Soldier’s Psalm.”   “Eagle’s Wings” is a song that comforts us as we face things that scare us or as we  listen to the stories of people whose lives are in danger.  You can listen to “On Eagle’s Wings” here – and you can color this picture to remind you that God is always with you.  

You need not fear the terror of the night – Nor the arrow that flies by day.. 

For to His angels He’s given a command – To guard you in all of your ways

Upon their hands they will bear you up – Lest you dash your foot against a stone

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings – Bear you on the breath of dawn

Make you to shine like the sun – And hold you in the palm of His hand 

In the week ahead, may you shine like the sun and remember that God is always with you.

~Peg Koller~