Daily Devotional Day 73

If we are crucified and buried with Christ, then we are dead and can not respond to outside distractions. We have effectively taken away the material that the devil has to work with, our natural strength. Compulsion is now gone because we are dead, and Satan doesn't have anything he can use. We can no longer react to his temptation to be compulsive. We are dead to our reactions. This operation works from the inside of us out. This is what is called the circumcision of the heart. (Romans 2:29) We need convinced of this in our minds. Jesus Christ was baptized as the prototype for us all.

Then immediately He was brought by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted of the devil. Jesus passed the test. He did not react to the temptation from Satan because His natural man was dead in Him. Through baptism, we, like Jesus, die to our natural man. He could resist all temptations. He knew who He was. This is what the test accomplished. It showed Him He had conquered the natural man's tendencies and compulsions. He had fasted 40 days and was at His lowest point. He still won by only responding after He checked in with His Father. He only answered with His Father's words. His natural man had lost its ability to dominate His Spirit even though the natural strength was screaming for survival. Jesus overcame the questions the devil asked Him. Like Eve, the content of the question was not the main point.

The main point was that the devil was there as in the garden to tempt Jesus to act independently of His Father and depend on self. If He did, He would fail. He didn't fail! He was now the second Adam. (1 Corinthians 15:45) He was successful where the first Adam was not. Jesus shows us the way to live. We must "only do those things we see the Father do." We must deny self and follow the Lord. Jesus was "the first born of many sons."

We are sons and daughters of the most high God! We are to follow the pattern Jesus set before us.

Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to "only do those things you see the Father do." Ask Him to help you wait on direction and guidance from the Father.