Highs and Lows

January 17

(Luke 3:21-22 NIV) “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened {22} and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.””

(Luke 4:1-2 NIV) “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, {2} where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.”

Temptation and testing often follow directly on the heels of great spiritual highs. It happened to Jesus several times, and will likely happen in our lives. Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit came to rest on Him. The Father blessed Him and gave Him a stamp of approval. What a spiritual high -- Jesus came out of the Jordon River pumped. But from the river of life, He went directly to the desert of death to be tested and tempted. Later, in Luke 9, Jesus goes up a mountain where God speaks to Him and He is transfigured in glory. But when Christ comes down from that spiritual high ground, He is confronted by a demonic spirit that his disciples could not drive out. His mountaintop experience is followed by a test from the devil. Temptation and testing often follow great spiritual highs. Beware! After a spiritual victory, temptation and testing are often just around the corner. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day