Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, "One does not live by bread alone.' " Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and "On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus answered him, "It is said, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-13)
Those of us who are bread lovers know the goodness of bread, don't we? Imagine being hungry and being surrounded by rocks that look like bread? And imagine having the power to turn those rocks into bread? Hot, soft, fresh-out-of-the-oven bread!
Jesus went through that very thing. Led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness to pray and prepare for His ministry, He finds Himself very hungry at the end of forty days of fasting from food and instead feasting on prayer. The devil comes at the right time and begins his temptation of Jesus. "I don't really believe you're the son of God, let alone have any sort of power, but just in case you are the son of God and possess any sort of power turn this bread into Mrs. Baird's bread!" Ouch, what a spot to hit Jesus, His human hunger. But Jesus was ready; He replies, "You know the Bible better than most Christians, you know it says there, 'One cannot live by bread alone.'" Jesus knew that the devil knew the rest of that verse he was quoting. (Deut. 8:3). Then the devil, remember he's the father of lies, takes Jesus to a place where he can and does show Him all the kingdoms of the world; "Wouldn't you like to have rule over them? I can give it to you if you would just worship me. It'll all be yours." Jesus knows Who we are to worship and He only and so He says, "Tempter, you know what the Good Book says, "We are to only worship the Lord you God, and to serve only Him.'" The devil then takes Jesus to the holy city and places Him on the highest point of the temple. The devil then says, "I still don't believe that you are the Son of God, but if you are throw yourself down from here, because the Bible says that God will protect You." Jesus answered him with another biblical reference, "We shouldn't put the Lord God to the test." And the temptation was over. For the time being. Don't you love how Luke says, "he departed from him until an opportune time."
You and I get tempted. All. The. Time. But to respond like Jesus, we have to be like Jesus; we must know, love, study, live, and believe the Bible. In reading the Word of God, God prepares us for life and the challenges of life. I recommend very highly, getting a book (and if I've shared this before, please forgive me and go get it anyway!) "The Divine Mentor" by Wayne Cordiero. It helps you know how for life you have the greatest mentors, including Jesus Himself, as one who wants to mentor your life in the best way. Without the resources of the Bible as our assistance for life, we will struggle mightily in all things.
PRAYER: Loving God, as we live life, we want to live life in You. Help us capture the joy and spirit of Your Word so that as the challenges of life present themselves we will find ourselves ready and in all of the, victors! We pray this in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
