Thursday, March 29
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan.
2 For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry.
3 Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread. "It will prove you are the Son of God," he said.
4 But Jesus told him, "No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won't feed men's souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need."
5 Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple.
6 "Jump off," he said, "and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare, 'God will send his angels to keep you from harm,' . . they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below."
7 Jesus retorted, "It also says not to put the Lord your God to a foolish test!"
8 Next Satan took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him the nations of the world and all their glory.
9 "I'll give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel and worship me."
10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "The Scriptures say, 'Worship only the Lord God. Obey only Him.' "
11 Then Satan went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
“ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil ”. Matthew 4:1
James A. Watson, of Blackburn, England while talking to a widow whose dying son kept saying, “He’ll carry me through” explained to her that it was the chorus of a popular hymn. He described how the good Shepherd was carrying her little boy through the valley; how He was gathering His lamb in His loving arms. He also told her that the Saviour would carry her through her trouble, would comfort, strengthen and keep her, and at last bring her to the happy land.
This hymn, “Yield not to temptation” by H. R. Palmer, remains a constant reminder of the world we live in as Christians, a world full of temptations and distractions.
Jesus, in today’s passage, was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. He was tempted with His lack, His faith and His desire, but He never yielded to those temptations. He firmly resisted the devil and he fled from Him.
As Christians, there will always be our own experience where the devil will tempt us and shake us just to see us fall. We must be constantly reminded of the victory Jesus won on our behalf and always trust Him to carry us through. Do not rely on your strength, but put your trust in God.
Birthday Blessing:
“You were sold for nothing and without money you will be redeemed”. Isaiah 52:3.
RBT Passage: Exodus 40; John 19; Proverbs 16; Philippians 3.
“There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice”. –Mark Twain good morning
