In seasons of success and accomplishment, there will always be someone who wants to test you. 

In Luke 9:1-6, Jesus sends out the Twelve to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (verse 2). “So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere,” (verse 6). 

In 10:1, he sent seventy-two others “ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go.” How did that work out? “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name,’” (verse 17). 

In verse 21 we read that Jesus “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” and praised our Father in heaven. “Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Verse 25)

Read Luke 9 and 10 up to this point and you cannot help but notice significant progress in the mission of Jesus. Confidence for what lay ahead in Jerusalem was no doubt building in the hearts and minds of his followers. Upon the excited return of those he sent out, Jesus led a prayer and praise meeting. Turning to his closest disciples he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see! For I tell you many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see but didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them,” (verses 23 and 24).

It was then that the expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.

Note this: Jesus was tested in the wilderness after forty days of fasting (Luke 4). He is tested here at the peak of his success as his followers extended the kingdom of God. Testing often comes in our weakest and most vulnerable moments. It also comes after significant success. 

From a moment of praise and delight into a moment of challenge, Jesus never missed a beat. He responded to the challenge with what is probably his best-known parable, the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

You are going to succeed in significant moments as you fulfill your mission in life. As you live the life of God’s dreams for you, you will collect wins. Do not be surprised when, in moments of victory and joyful reflection, someone steps up to poke you with a sharp stick. Prepare now for this inevitability. 

In that moment when irritability could rob you of your joy and could steal your victory, step up and deliver even more of God’s good grace. 

I keep a paper calendar on my desk. Each day I mark it with an X or a circle. I have a couple of other notations I make as well. The X is an indication of success. It may be small, but it is worth celebrating. A circle represents a setback. Today I added a square which represents a shift in thinking. 

Each of these marks helps me reflect on the successes and challenges and how I responded. In reflecting on those successes and failures, I am able to sort out what went right, what went wrong, what was confused, and what was missing. I am able to prepare for what is next. 

Let us learn from Jesus to be prepared in our most vulnerable moments and in our most triumphant. Soon we will see Jesus experience a whole ‘nother level of testing. Having overcome at his weakest moment and at his strongest, how do you think he will fare? How have you? How will you?