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THE FIRST TEMPTATION OF JESUS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
Luke 4:1-4

Psalm 24:1-10

 

“I am in the Father…”

 

THE FIRST TEMPTATION OF JESUS
 
The Lord fasted in the wilderness for forty days and was continuously tempted. After those forty days, when Jesus was tired and hungry, Satan came with his cleverest temptations (Luke 4:2). We might note here a lesson for us to remember. When we are tired from a heavy schedule or physical illness, Satan often takes advantage and endeavours to attack us when we are at our weakest. At such times we must seek strength from God through prayer and the reading of His Word.
 
The Lord was extremely hungry and Satan attacked Him at that point. Satan’s first temptation was in the area of normal physical needs and desires. Satan tried to take advantage of the Lord’s hunger by asking Him to prove His divine Sonship by changing the stones into food (Luke 4:3). God the Father had already announced that Jesus was His Son and that He was well pleased with Him (Matt 3:17). So there was no need to prove that point. There was need, however, for Jesus to follow the Father’s will. To have met His hunger by using His power would have glorified Himself rather than the Father. Also, it would have moved Christ out of the area of human testing since no human could turn stones into food. The Scripture records that He was tempted in every human point, yet without sin (Heb 4:15).
 
The Lord faced the temptation the same as we should. He used the power of the Word of God, reminding Satan that our physical needs are not the most important thing in life (Deut 8:3). Satan often tricks God’s people into allowing physical comforts to become the very centre of their existence.
 
So Christ stopped Satan’s attack by quoting Scripture which shows that God will, in His time and in His way, provide for the physical needs of His obedient people.
 
THOUGHT: How does Satan take advantage of our physical weakness?

PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for meeting my needs through Thy Word.

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