Meditate.
And don't let us yield to temptation, but
rescue us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13
Jesus knew temptation. After His baptism, He
spent forty days in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan. Those temptations
included a challenge to change stones into bread when Jesus was very hungry; a confrontation
for Jesus to jump off the top of the Temple so that angels could save Him; and
a third test was for Jesus to bow down and worship Satan, who would give Jesus
the kingdoms of the world. Jesus did not give in to any of Satan’s temptations
and quoted scripture to defeat Satan’s contest.
 |
| Jump off the Temple? Jesus didn't jump. Don't test the Lord your God. |
For forty days and forty nights he [Jesus]
fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him,
"If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of
bread." But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not
live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the
Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures
say, 'He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with
their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'" Jesus
responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your
God.'" Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and
showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. "I will give it
all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me." "Get
out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You
must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'" Then the devil went
away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Matthew 4:2-11
It was necessary for Jesus to totally
understand temptation so that He could identify with mankind.
We also know that the Son did not come to
help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was
necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and
sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.
Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us
when we are being tested. Hebrews 2:16-18
We are tested to help us grow.
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy
ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These
trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests
and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So
when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much
praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole
world. 1 Peter 1:6-7
I think that Jesus experienced far more
temptation, trials, and persecution than I have ever had to endure. He knows
temptation and as we pray asking Him to rescue us, He can lead us not into temptation. Can you trust Him to do that? Where is
your faith?
Prayer
~ Lord Jesus, rescue us. Lead us not into temptation. You know just what
temptation is like—so please protect us. Give us Your strength that all that we
think, say and do may honor You and our Heavenly Father.
Verses
of Salvation ~ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by
his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ
from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless
inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled,
beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting
you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be
revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:3-5
©
2020 Text, photos and paintings by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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