Luke 4: 1-13
Jesus full of the Holy Spirit, returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them, he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered,“It is written: Man does not live by bread alone.”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ “
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ “
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
A Thought
The Holy Spirit led Jesus in the desert where he did not eat for 40 days. During this time he was tempted by the devil. The devil offered Jesus bread because he was hungry. He offered him all authority and splendor of this world (without having to go to the cross) if he would bow down and worship him. The devil told him if he was the Son of God, to throw himself down from the highest point of the temple that the angels would not let him be hurt. Each time Jesus always answered with the written word. Then the devil left him to return at a later time. The devil still offers the same temptations for us today. We must stand on the scriptures just as Jesus did knowing that we do not live on bread alone, that we must worship the Lord our God only, and that we must not tempt God. Know that we will all be tempted but know we are able to withstand if we remember the holy scriptures.
Our Prayer
Thank you Father that your word will make us strong; help us to recognize the devil when he comes knocking and send him walking by the power of your word. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
