Our scripture this morning is Matthew 4:1-4.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Jesus doesn’t fall for temptation as we humans did. There He is, in the desert, hungry and alone, facing down Satan, but His faith is firm. We were in a beautiful garden, with everything we needed and we still blew it!
Jesus knows Satan can’t and won’t follow through on his promises. His only real power is to distract us from our connection to God with lies and empty offers. Jesus trusts God through the worst moments of His earthly life as He always has.
Jesus hears Satan’s twisting of scripture in an attempt to mislead Him. He responds to each of Satan’s statements with the truth, as we should meet our daily challenges. Jesus proved His connection to God is stronger than any earthly temptation we may face, and that we may know that same love and care.
Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we follow false paths rather than those You have prepared for us. Forgive us and bless us to go to the world in Your name. Amen.
