“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:8-9 (ESV)
Today on this first Sunday in Lent we ask Jesus to walk with us in life and into eternity in His love. Our Gospel reading from Luke chapter 4 reminds us that Jesus knows what it is like to walk alone in life under the attack of the devil’s temptations. Jesus overcame temptation during His forty days in the wilderness, employing scripture against satan’s lies.
(“Thank you, Jesus for your purposeful walk in human flesh and perfect resistance to sin and satan. Thank you for taking our sin to the cross so that we may call upon Your victorious name in our journey and know You will save.”)
Today’s Gospel reading reminds us of the powerful weapon and shield that God gives us against sin and satan and how important it is to learn it and use it. This weapon and shield is God’s Word.
We observe the devil using God’s word, trying to tempt Jesus away from His mission to save us. Jesus responds to the temptations with His perfect understanding of the divine truths of scripture, undoing the devil’s distortions. It has been satan’s tactic from the beginning, even in the garden of Eden, to twist scripture and mislead humanity. We have an enemy that was so bold as to walk with Jesus in the wilderness and try to turn Him toward dark, evil paths. Don’t think this evil one would not try to tempt us. Fortunately the same Jesus who overcame satan in the wilderness remained steadfast in His mission to defeat sin, satan, and death itself. “It is finished!” He declared from the cross. (John 19:30) Gods promises that, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13). This Word from God to us emboldens us in our life journey to confront our sin with repentant prayer, turning it over to Jesus. “Forgive me, Oh Lord! Save me, Jesus!” Because Jesus is victorious, is risen, and is our Good Shepherd, King of heaven and earth, we rejoice in perfect forgiveness and salvation and are invited to walk boldly through life, praying, “Lord, walk with me.”
Jesus does walk with us. When our flesh and satan would tempt us we remember the Lord’s promise, “I am with you always to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). When sin and satan attempt to turn your eyes away from Christ’s victory, God’s Word reminds us to live as champion warriors whose home in heaven is won:
Ephesians 6:10–18: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
If we are at a loss for words in these times of attack, pray,”Lord walk with me. Or Lord, save me.” Or as Jesus teaches, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (deliver us from the evil one)
In John 16:33 Jesus encourages His disciples, and it is also an encouragement to us, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The Lord grant you strength in His Word and presence, in His forgiveness and mission calling as He walks with you today and into eternal glory.
HYMN: “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me”
1. I want Jesus to walk with me; I want Jesus to walk with me; All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
2. In my trials, Lord, walk with me; In my trials, Lord, walk with me; When my heart is almost breaking, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
3. When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me; When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me; When my head is bowed in sorrow, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
(Hymn Text: Public domain found in the hymnal: One and All Rejoice #200 Concordia Publishing House)