What if Jesus responded to temptation like we usually do?  I have been reflecting lately on the nature of temptation and suffering, and the relationship between the two in the life of Jesus and my own life.  When the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4), how did Jesus respond?  “And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’” But he answered, “Well, um, I am pretty hungry, but really I shouldn’t.  I can’t do that.  Wow, I’m hungry.  How can I say no?  I have to say no.  Man shall not live... but, I do need bread, after all.  God knows that I need bread.  How can I survive without bread?”  Was this Jesus’ response? NO!  But I confess to my own shame that I often give that kind of response to temptation.  I reason it through in my own head, instead of giving a decisive instantaneous “NO!” like Jesus did.  Matthew does not record Jesus mulling over the Devil’s offer.  Jesus gives an immediate response in the negative, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4).  And that is the end of it.  The temptation was real but Jesus decisively said NO each time.

In a number of Thai churches I have noticed that the type of worship songs selected fall into three general categories: 1) “I offer you my life” 2) “Pour out your Spirit” and, 3) “I want to be close to you”.  This emphasis is hardly unique to Thailand as much of modern worship songs here are heavily influenced from the West.  These type of songs have a time and place yet it seems that in some churches, these are almost the only type of songs that are played.  As we sing the same basic things over and over again, I have begun to wonder, “Where is Christ? Where is the cross?”.  It seems to be a glaring oversight to not have songs about Christ and his finished work on the cross as a mainstay of Christian worship.  When I come into the weekly worship meeting, the first thing that my heart wants to sing is usually not “I offer my life to you” or “You are my every desire.”  Why is that?  Is it because I am not spiritual enough?  Yes, in fact, that is exactly the reason.  If I am honest to myself, my motivations are usually mixed and Christ is not my every desire.  When songs come up that require me to sing lyrics like “You are all that I want”, I will often go silent or sing very quietly, praying in my heart, “Oh LORD, make me desire nothing but you.  This song is not me.  Change my heart God, and increase my love for you.”  If I sing songs that say more than is really true, then I feel like I am lying to God and everyone around me.