Bible In A Year | Read: Matthew 4
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted 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.’” 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.’” 7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do 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 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.’” 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus is tempted three times by the devil. The temptations provide easy ways to accomplish some positive outcomes: satisfying hunger, proving that God keeps his promises and giving Jesus control over the entire earth. The results would have been good, but the methods of getting there would have been wrong. In each situation, Jesus resists the temptation by quoting from the Bible. He then begins his ministry in the area around the Sea of Galilee.
Things that tempt us are usually shortcuts to a seemingly positive outcome: stealing so I can have what I want without working too hard; lying so I don’t have to suffer the consequences I deserve; gossiping so I can make myself look better than other people. The way to overcome these temptations is to know and obey God’s desires, not by pursuing shortcuts to an easier outcome.
Here it also reveals that we sin when “it is all about us”, what God is doing in us, our maturity in our walk with God, our understanding of God’s promises, me, me, me…. It is all about making us look good/right/mature in the eyes of those around us.
Let God choose whether we look good in the eyes of people. Let’s make it our desire to always make God look good in everything we say and do.
Time to Pray
Father, how can I make You look good before my world today? How can my actions not draw attention to me and what I am doing and be focused on You? Help me not to use Your promises as a way to have people look at me, but rather as a way to draw attention to You and the love You have for all people. Help all of us today. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Action Step
What is God showing me? What am I going to do about it?
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