WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD ...Be a survivor!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be stranded on an island? When I was younger, a day did not pass by without me watching the ever popular TV show, "Gilligan's Island". It was one of my favorite shows to watch as a younger person, I was fascinated about some of the characters: The Skipper, Gilligan, Mary Ann, Ginger, The Professor and the Howells and how they all were able to function day to day while being stranded on an island.

Most of us, if we got stranded on an island or in the desert today, it would be purely by accident, possibly because we ran out of gas or the car got overheated. None of us would deliberately choose to be stranded on an island or in the desert.

But Jesus did.

I wonder, if we were to be stranded in the desert and we knew about it ahead of time - what would be the one thing we would take with us? Hmmm ... I'm thinking it would be hot, so a fan or air conditioner would be good. Or I'm thinking that a desert is dry and humid, a vast supply of water would also be a good idea.

Jesus thought His knowledge of Scripture was a good idea!

MATTHEW 4:1 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil."
The knowledge of Scripture was the most crucial survival tool that Jesus could have with Him as He faced a time of temptation right there in the desert.

Each and every day we are faced with temptations. In fact, last week I polled the readers the following question in the YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, "What area do you feel tempted?" The top answers were:

1. 66% voted and said that they feel tempted in the area of "eating".
2. 33% of those voting said that they are tempted with "habits."

I found the results of this week's poll very interesting. First of all, it proves that we are all faced with temptation of one sort or another. Secondly, that the top answers falls right into place of what I studied this week...

Scripture tells us that Jesus went into the desert. While there, He fasted for 40 days and nights. Why do you suppose Jesus went into the desert to fast? First, I believe it indicated a sincerity in fasting, (it is pretty hard to show off your fasting if you are alone in the desert) and secondly, going into the desert to pray showed that Jesus was earnestly seeking God's will.

While there in the desert, the tempter came and tempted Jesus. It is in this hour that Jesus depended upon that one thing that He brought with Him to the desert. It wasn't water, and it wasn't a fan, but it was the Word of God. He didn't bring with him a bunch of scrolls ... no the Word of God was in His head and in His heart. No matter where He stood or sat or laid in that desert ... His survival tool was with Him at all times!

In Deuteronomy 8:4, it says that "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Jesus was in the habit of meditating upon the Word of God - the food that gave Jesus strength during His temptation was God's Word.

If you were stranded on an island or in the desert ... would His Word be enough for you to feast on? Could the Word that you have hidden in your heart be enough for you to survive?

WHAT ARE YOUR SURVIVAL TOOLS?

Wednesday Weekly Word is a post devoted each Wednesday to a personal study I am doing. These are my thoughts as I dig into God's Word and study about the time Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying. It is my prayer that we will all seek after Him earnestly and with a sincere heart!

YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL: take time this week to vote in the new poll. On this blog ... your opinion really does matter!!