Facing Life

     Jesus was human.  He had to face life like a human.  Just because He was God in human form does not mean that He was exempt from facing the things that we all face.  It does not mean that He did not have pain in His life.  He faced temptation, loss, and disappointment just like you and me.
     After His baptism to anoint Him for His ministry, He faced 40 days of hunger, thirst, and lack of sleep from fasting in the desert.  When that was over, immediately He was confronted by Satan himself to tempt Him.  Almost everyone would break under those circumstances, but He did not.  Better than that, He taught us how to be strong enough not to break too.  We just have to put in the work before it comes.
     He went home and faced rejection.  He tried to start His ministry there, but when people will not listen, then you have to move on.  Do not let people's rejection discourage you.  Look for ways to change and adapt to life.  He also proved the power of God.  They tried to throw Him off a cliff, but He walk right through them on to the next town.  When you are on God's path, you have the same protection.
     Jesus drove out evil because He had the authority.  Unless you know God has given your that authority and you have prepared yourself, then do not go out with the intent of driving evil out of people.  If you are not ready, it will overcome you.  It can set you back years or worse.  This portion of scripture also proves that evil can enter churches.  People think that since it is a holy place that evil cannot enter.  It is just a place where holy people go.  That means it also attracts evil to try to disrupt things. 
     Jesus healed people to easy their suffering in life.  We have that power too if we have the faith.  However, there are times when God will not allow healing.  It is hard to believe, but He has good reason.  It is for His plan.  Relief in life is nice, but it will not keep people from dying one day.  We need to be more concerned about the eternal relief over the physical relief.  When you are in pain though, that can be difficult to see clearly. 
     Like Jesus, we also need to find time to be alone.  Like sleep, time alone with God will revive us spiritually.  We need time alone with God more than food, water, sleep, or medicine.  What it can do for you spiritually and physically is miraculous.  Some people see immediate change.  However most of us do not see the difference until we look back over the years.  Jesus faced life and never gave up.  We can do the same. We have the advantage of having His play book to help us out.

Luke 4