If Thou Be

These words were spoken by the tempter. The devil. The occasion? When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus had just completed fasting for forty days and forty nights. 

We are told that Jesus was sent there to be tempted. The devil did not disappoint. He arrived on the scene as soon as he heard the word “action”. The devil tempted Jesus three different times:

1. To turn stones into bread.

2. To cast Himself off of a pinnacle of the temple.

3. To gain the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him. 

When the devil first approached Jesus, he challenged His BEING, His identity.  He said to Jesus, “if thou be the Son of God”, then do these things. The devil came straight for His identity. 

If the devil can get us questioning our identity, then he has a foothold into influencing our behaviors. 

Think about it...

If thou be a man, then what should you do to prove it? 

If thou be a woman, then do what to prove you’re a woman?

If thou be an adult, then do what? 

If thou be a Christian... All of us can fill in the blank. Whether we are aware or not, each one of us has had our Being, our identity challenged.  And what have we done as a result? 

As a Christ follower, the Word of God is clear on who we are and therefore what we should do (or not). Psychologist Erik Erikson concluded if humans do not forge a healthy identity, we will wrestle with identity or role confusion.  This can lead to our uncertainty of who we are and what we do and to whom we relate.  We walk in a perpetual state of confusion. And we know, the devil is known to be the author of confusion. 

Jesus modeled for us how to deal when our identity, our very BEING, is challenged and tempted. First of all, He KNEW He WAS the Son of God.  He did not feel the need to prove anything.  Secondly, because He knew His identity, it guided His behavior. 

Who are you? What are you doing? 

#MoMusing #pondering #inmyheart #journaling #blog #blogging #instagramblogger #ifthoube #identity #development #whoareyou #whatareyoudoing #identityformation or #identityconfusion #whomtheSonhassetfree #indeedisfree #choosewell