“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him,

“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:1–4

I Will Protect This House

It was December 31, 1967. The band couldn’t perform the Pre-game show on Lambeau field in Green Bay because the lips of the musicians were freezing to their instruments. A biting wind pierced through the stadium bringing temperatures down to -36 degrees. The Green Bay Packers were lined up against the Dallas cowboys in what was to be one of the greatest games in NFL history. It was third and goal with 16 seconds remaining on the clock. Five time all pro guard lined up against Jethro Pugh 2 feet from the end zone. The score was 14 to 17 Green bay trailing Dallas by only three points.

The Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr approached Kramer before the play and asked if he could get enough traction for a wedge, a block that would protect him long enough to push the short two feet into the end zone. Kramer responded with an unquestioning “yes”. The teams lined up, the ball was snapped, and Kramer drove Pugh back into the end zone providing giving Starr just enough space for the ball to cross the line winning the game for Green Bay.

When Starr asked Kramer if he could get enough traction for a wedge, what he was really asking is can you protect me long enough to get into the end zone. Kramer’s confidence and attitude is prized on the football field.  It is a confidence born of tireless training and boundless experience. The brand Under Armour captured this attitude in their slogan “I will protect this house”. It is a confidence and determination the players need if they are going to win on the field.

Do you have this same confidence and determination to protect yourself from temptation? When Jesus was tempted in the desert he was completely confident in his rejection of temptation. He had this confidence based on the word of God. When Jesus was tempted, He immediately responded by quoting scripture to defend himself against temptation.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 teaches us that our bodies are not just our own they are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. And just prior to this in verses 14-18 we learn that when we sin it is as if we are joining Christ to that sin. Are you confident and determined to protect this house? Will you protect this house?