1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempteda by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’b ”
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’c ”
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’e ”
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4)
6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4)
Thoughts: Is it possible that it is in times of temptation that we are able to listen to God's voice? Certainly when Cain was being tempted God spoke clearly to him. God told Cain sin was crouching at the door. He asked Cain to be careful, but Cain would not listen.
In the temptation of Jesus, Jesus quoted scripture- applying it to his life's situation, and to the temptation that He faced. It is often in the midst of trials and temptations that we hear God speaking to us. The devil tempted Jesus to show his divinity early by satisfying his comfort, by doing a miracle for show, by giving into evil in order to achieve popularity. It was in facing these temptations that the Word of God spoke to Him and then the angels attended Him.
Truth is temptation makes us feel that we are alone against the world. But truth is God is there in His Word speaking to us.
In the temptation of Jesus, Jesus quoted scripture- applying it to his life's situation, and to the temptation that He faced. It is often in the midst of trials and temptations that we hear God speaking to us. The devil tempted Jesus to show his divinity early by satisfying his comfort, by doing a miracle for show, by giving into evil in order to achieve popularity. It was in facing these temptations that the Word of God spoke to Him and then the angels attended Him.
Truth is temptation makes us feel that we are alone against the world. But truth is God is there in His Word speaking to us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to hear your voice in temptation. Give me grace to listen to your voice over the voices of others.
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