Devotion:
Read Luke 4:1-13.
As we study this time of temptation of our Lord, we gain insights into his nature and how we are to deal with temptation. Jesus, fresh from his baptism and his Father’s anointing, had gone away into a desolate place to decide how he would use his powers; in other words, what kind of Messiah he would be. It was “tempting” to use his power to satisfy his own needs (hunger), to rule politically, or to impress with spectacle. We are only tempted by the things that have at least some amount of allure or appeal to us. If we are not drawn to them in some way, we are not tempted. This tells us that Jesus at least considered choosing each of the temptations. I picture him saying, “H’mmm!” as he thought about the advantages or benefits of each of them. Yet, at the same time, he sought his Father’s will in each temptation and found both the answer and power to respond faithfully by remembering passages of Scripture.
You and I should not be surprised that we are tempted. We have free will, and we are bombarded with choices every day. Sometimes it is easy to choose correctly. But sometimes we are really tempted because the bad choice holds some attraction for us. This passage encourages us to push back, ask what God would have us do, and choose that.
Personal Worship Option:
Remember how we pray in our Lord’s Prayer to not be led into temptation. Think about the things that may tempt you today or tomorrow. Pray for the wisdom to do as Jesus did and choose to resist that temptation. And remember that, just as Jesus’ temptations did not completely end there, ours will not either.
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