Lifeway.com says that Lent "... is a strong, compelling call to abandon self and to run to Christ." I couldn't agree more, and I'm so glad that you're here to join me on this 40 day journey.
Day 3
Today we're reading Matthew 4: 1 – 11 ...
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 But He answered, “It is written:
Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
5 Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
He will give His angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
8 Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”
11 Then the Devil left Him, and immediately angels came and began to serve Him.
Immediately prior to the scene we read about today, Jesus was baptised by John, and the heavens had opened, and God's voice had declared: " This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!" (Matthew 3: 13 - 17)
The Devil, who had been watching the events on Jordan's shore, is quick to see an opportunity to test Jesus' resolve and His loyalty to His Father. His challenge to Jesus is similar to the one he issues to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It's the question: “what if?” ...
"You've heard all these promises and declarations from God, and you trust that He's good ... but what
if that trust is misplaced? What if He can't do what He said? Or, what if you don't actually need Him? What if you can make it on your own?"
Maybe you've heard those whispers too? Maybe the Enemy of our souls has made the same insinuations to you? Those thoughts that creep into our minds in the early hours, when the rest of the family is sleeping, but we're lying awake wondering if we're good enough for God to hear our prayers, or if He's big enough to handle our burdens ...
When all the “what if’s” come our way, in what or in whom will we place our trust?
In our Scripture passage today, Jesus shows us the way to respond to Satan's ploy . At each challenge, Jesus refuses the bait and reasserts His trust in God and God’s word. He knows that the Father is true to His Word, and He is wise enough not to even get into a debate with the enemy!
This Lent, when temptations come to place our trust in ourselves or in the world around us, may we learn to follow the Lord’s example and place our trust securely in the Word and promise of God.