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Hear the devotional: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/Ready-for-The-Test--Jesus-e1v7vsq
View the podcast: https://www.tiktok.com/@eradiovalverde/video/7202086570961145131?lang=en
1 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. 2 Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, 3 which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread." 4 Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."5 For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, 6 "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone." 7 Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God." 8 For the third test, the Devil took him on the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. 9 Then he said, "They're yours - lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours." 10 Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness." 11 The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus' needs. (Matthew 4:1-11 The Message Bible)
"Do you have a blue book?" One of the most frightening questions I ever had asked of me in college. I spent a fortune on books and not one of them, to the best of my recollection, was blue. And if it was, I knew it was not the book for this class. The person asking the question explained that a blue book was a lined book for taking tests and could be purchased at the college bookstore. I thank God that I was ready for the test with the academic knowledge I needed, but had not this person asked me about the proper place on which to answer the questions for said exam, I would have been sunk!
Fasting is the key to understanding and experiencing Lent. And for Jesus' BIG test, He did just that. He gave up food for forty days and forty nights, to feast on the Word and Spirit of God. The proctor for this test was none other than the enemy of His Father. This version of the Bible says, "The Devil was read to give it." Why not? A one-on-one showdown with the Boss' Son? Showoff in the showcase was the devil's thinking; I can shame Son and Dad with each blow! And boy is He hungry! 40 days and nights with no food, man is He hungry and weak! I shall start with the obvious; His tummy! So, the tester says, "Since You are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread." What a challenge, nothing speaks to the heart and stomach of a hungry man than a loaf of bread. Make it a fresh-baked hot loaf of bread and you will find me in line to get a piece! Add some butter and we're totally in business! Silly Devil, you're up against the Son of God! Just hear what Jesus says to this tempter, "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth." Here is the key from fasting. If we "give up" something that we need to stay alive, and "take up" prayer, Bible study, worship; that is fasting. I've shared how as a child of Protestant parents of the Hispanic kind, Lent was foreign to me and so my first encounter was with a Catholic friend who said he had given up candy for Lent. "WHAT?" was my mental response but at that age, may have been said out loud. I thanked my God immediately that I was not a Catholic and was blessed to be a Protestant. But, years later, the observance of Lent came our way.
There came a second test for Jesus, where the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and placed Him on the top of the temple and said, "Jump, since you are God's Son..." And the devil adds in some scripture, like that of Psalm 91 where the devil reminds Jesus that He's in the care of angels, so much so, You won't so much as stub your toe on a stone." Well, you can't, even if you are the devil, go one-on-one with Jesus on scripture because you won't win. Jesus says, quoting from Deuteronomy, "Don't you dare test the Lord your God." Score thus far: Devil 0, Jesus 2.
Third and final test. The devil takes Jesus to a high mountain (Not the Hill Country types we have near here) and once there, the devil says that he will give them to Jesus if Jesus will get on His knees and worship him and they, the kingdoms of the earth, "lock, stock, and barrel." Jesus now says, "Beat it, Satan!" Again, Jesus uses Scripture, again from Deuteronomy, "Worship the Lord Your God, and only Him. Serve Him with absolute single-heartedness." Test over. Jesus won. The devil had no choice but to leave. He leaves and angels arrive to minister to Jesus' needs.
Lent is our forty-day journey to prepare our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits for all that Easter brings. It means that we need more of God to more fully understand and appreciate the meaning and power of God at the main event that is Crucifixion and Resurrection. The key is to trust God more than yourself and to trust God to fight against the wiles of the devil. Are you ready?
PRAYER: Loving God, prepare my heart, mind, body and spirit to walk with You closely during the time of Lent. As I prepare for Ash Wednesday, may I be reminded over and over again, that I am Yours and that You are mine. Let me grow in my spiritual life by taking up prayer for my own good and growth. In Christ Jesus' strong name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Grow in the prayer department of your life right now.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
