As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “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.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11
Temptation’s Choice
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."
Have you ever struggled with the fact that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted?
Especially when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, part of the prayer was "Lead us not into temptation".
Why, then, did the Spirit lead Jesus to be tempted?
For us.
Read that again.
For us.
For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted, knowing exactly how it feels to be human, in every respect as we are, yet without committing any sin. Hebrew 4:15 AMP
It is easy for us to think or say, "Well, it was Jesus," so He could be tempted and not fail.
But we miss the point of temptation.
He was still tempted!
It doesn't say He didn't feel tempted; it says He was tempted yet didn't fail.
He faced the same choices we face.
Temptation always leads to a choice.
The enemy always wants you to think it is a choice of right or wrong, good or bad. Yet it is really a choice of trust.
Are you going to trust that Our Abba Father is enough?
Temptation is an opportunity to trust
Our Jesus, Who sits upon His heavenly throne, also sits upon an earthly one within us.
He will supply all we need according to His riches in glory to suffice every opportunity we face. This is Grace!
Trust Him. He is enough
In what ways, attitudes, or areas of your life are you tempted not to trust that our Abba Father is not enough?
Lord, may we see that each temptation is an opportunity to trust You are enough. Oh, that we lack no good thing as Your beloved children. Amen!