Read Luke 4:1-13 and 22:39-46

“Get up. Pray so you won’t give in to temptation.” – Luke 22:46

Recently, my wife, Birdie and I had pretty good seats for a Petra concert at the Akron Civic Theater.

One of their songs is titled, “Who’s on the Lord’s side?”

Wow! What lyrics!

“You’ve been running

…for a long time…

You better get right while

He may be found.”

“You better choose this day – tomorrow’s not promised to you.”

In Luke 22, Jesus said, “Get up.”

Are you actively working at and dealing with temptation? If not, this can lead to a falling of your faith.

Jesus is talking to His disciples, who were sleeping. They were exhausted, a time that a person is vulnerable to fall into temptation. Jesus was fasting and had not eaten in 40 days (See Luke 4). So, His hunger was great and His resistance was low.

At times like this, the devil seems to make temptations seem attractive.

We all have our weaknesses and temptations. It could be drugs, adultery, stealing, corruption, homosexuality, drunkenness, lying and more.

Be alert. Stand firm. Temptation is not a sin. But how we deal with it might be. You may have to turn around and run the other way. Ask God for direction.

Stay alert!

In Luke 4, Jesus was alert and He stood firm. He refused to give in to the temptation of Satan.

What a defining moment.

Then, having been repulsed twice by Scripture, the devil quotes scripture to try to tempt Jesus in 4:10-11. Jesus responded with complete trust in God (v 12).

“He got up from prayer, went back to the disciples and found them asleep, full of grief. He said, “What business do you have sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won’t give in to temptation.” – Luke 22:45-46

Get up. Hit the devil with a scripture verse such as this one: “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Luke 4:8.

Memorize it.

Run from temptation. Run. Turn around and go the other way.

Pray for strength!

Tom Weckesser