The Phil Files

I was sitting in the left hand turn lane behind a pickup waiting for a break in traffic so I could turn left. All of a sudden, as the light turned yellow, the pick up hit the gas, spun his tires a bit, yanked over one lane and sped down the street half a block, turned left into a parking lot, cutting off an oncoming car in the process. Guess where he was head? The Center for Conflict resolution.

Imagine that! A person in the course of 10 seconds broke three traffic laws, cut off two people, and slid into the Center for Conflict Resolution. I’m surprised the last guy he cut off didn’t follow him into the parking lot … or into the Center for Conflict Resolution! Yowsers.

I truly did feel sorry for the guy who had to hit his breaks to keep from getting hit head on by an oncoming pick up. I have no idea what he said or who he felt, but I know it would have been hard for me to control my temper — I was pretty scorched just watching all of this from the red light where the pick up truck should have still been located. Temptation comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. One thing I do know, it often seems so tailor made to my weaknesses and vulnerabilities at the worst possible time. So, I’m saying the Lord’s prayer with a focus on temptation tonight … hope you will join me.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

For or yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.

So frequently, we hear the descriptive phrase “crime of opportunity” used to talk about a robbery or act of violence as if it almost happened by sheer luck or fate. Most “crimes of opportunity,” however, are carefully arranged situations where the criminals have planned what they are going to do, they are just waiting for the right person and situation to come along to do it.

Since Jesus faced down Satan in the wilderness in the time of temptation (Luke 4:1-12), the evil one has been “lying in the weeds” waiting for his great opportunity to assault the Master (Luke 4:13). All the talk of Satan, darkness, betrayal, temptation, repentance, and faithfulness in this chapter let’s us know this is the moment the evil one has waiting to happen. Judas has now become the devil’s co-conspirator in waiting and arranging for this moment to come:

//Inspiration: Luke 22:3a, 6
Then Satan entered in to Judas Iscariot … So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they [the religious leaders] could arrest him [Jesus] when the crowds weren’t around.

//Incarnation:
I must realize that evil and the powerful one behind evil are real, determined, cunning, and deadly. Paul warns early believers of this truth (Ephesians 6:10-12. I ignore this truth at my own peril. Satan lies in wait for the perfect moment to strike and bring me down. I must hear the message of this chapter and always be ready to resist him and also be ready to confess and return if I fall!

//Invitation:
O LORD God, strengthen me to withstand the inopportune attacks of Satan in my moments of weakness and vulnerability. Give me courage to admit my sins and failures of faithfulness. But, dear Father, bring the right people into my life that will keep on the path of your grace and power. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.