I'll Be Back!

Jesus had just been water baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist.  Then He was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit's 1st assignment was to lead Jesus into the wilderness (to be tempted by satan).  His Father had equipped Him for what lay ahead.  Jesus passed the test because He'd studied The Book (The Holy Scriptures).  He was prepared and equipped for the battle--using The Word as His only weapon.

After the battle had been won, satan retreated.  But only in Luke's account does it say, "satan left for a season."  This meant he was coming back at a more opportune time.  (Maybe he said something like this:  "I'll be back!")  The battle had been won by Jesus....but the war was not over!

After Jesus returned from the wilderness, He began His public ministry.  His appearance in the synagogue, and His message given in the pulpit, enraged the religious leaders.  They ran Him out of the city and were intending to throw Him over a cliff...but He "passed through the midst of them and went His way."

Some new believers are deceived--thinking that becoming a Christian means it's gonna be "all roses!"  BUT--they fail to realize that roses have lots of thorns!  The Lord never said it'd be EASY to be a Christian....but He did say He'd never leave us or forsake us; He did say He would equip us for whatever task He assigned us; He did guarantee that He'd lead us, guide us, help us, comfort us, strengthen us, etc.  And He told us we needed to LOVE one another.  So--remember this:

You can choose to not love--and get hurt...or you can choose to love--and you'll still get hurt!  But when you choose to do it God's way (to love), He will greet you at heaven's gate and say to you,   "Well done, good and faithful servant....I am well pleased with you!  Come and enter My gates with joy!"  [Taken from:  Matthew 25:21 - paraphrased]  If we don't have LOVE--we have nothing! 

The only ticket  (currency) required to get into heaven is LOVE (love for The Father and His Son).  LOVE is the bare minimum price for admission)!