Jesus Tested [Matthew 4]

1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
 2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
 3And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" 5Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU';and 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" 7Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'"
 8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"
 11Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Do you remember what happened right before this passage?  God had confirmed in public that Jesus was His loved Son and how pleased He was with Him.  Then the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted.  What a gift to have the truth of God's love seared into His heart and mind as He dealt with deception and temptation. You have the same opportunity each day as you read His word to have His words of endearment burned into your heart and mind.  Do you sense what a difference it would make as you face deception?

May you stand firm in the truth of who you are in Christ when the testing comes.
Verna McCrillis, 1/5/2009