Stimuli

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  Matthew 4:1-11  If I had the resources I could probably buy a pair of shoes every day. I have at times changed my outing so that I would conveniently pass by a shoe store just to see what’s new. A shoe store could be considered a “wilderness” for me so at any point and time that I find myself going in a shoe store I know that it’s not the Spirit of God that is leading me there. This is perhaps a simple example of how we instigate our own wilderness. If we are not careful we can find ourselves walking into situations that make us vulnerable. Christ’s answer to his temptations is to live the Word of God out loud, because even as we are weak the Spirit is strong. Soon, we are able to recognize our own self-imposed temptations and be less dependent on the things that the world has to offer and be more stimulated by the presence of a risen Christ.