Here's the link to Matthew 4.
The initial part of this chapter is one that really speaks to me, and I think it should speak to all Christians regarding temptations that we face. And the encouraging thing is that it doesn't leave us hanging--it tells us how to escape those temptations and stay on the path on which God has placed us.
The story describes that, after Jesus was baptized by John, he went out into the wilderness and fasted for a long, long time...to the point that he was famished. And, as he always does, the "tempter" came to offer Jesus what he wanted most--to take the easy way out and to test God's faithfulness. Hint: If you have to test God's faithfulness, it is your own faith that is seriously lacking. This is a perfect example of the spiritual warfare that Satan is making ever-present in our lives. He doesn't necessarily come into full view and drag us to mountain tops to say, "Do this, and follow me," but he does tempt us with things that, when considering our eternal God, Satan is saying, "Do this, and forget about Him."
I easily compare my struggle with weight loss/dieting to this text. It's funny that Jesus also happens to be tempted initially with food, because food is pretty much my biggest temptation! And his response is just what I need to hear: "Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
The initial part of this chapter is one that really speaks to me, and I think it should speak to all Christians regarding temptations that we face. And the encouraging thing is that it doesn't leave us hanging--it tells us how to escape those temptations and stay on the path on which God has placed us.
The story describes that, after Jesus was baptized by John, he went out into the wilderness and fasted for a long, long time...to the point that he was famished. And, as he always does, the "tempter" came to offer Jesus what he wanted most--to take the easy way out and to test God's faithfulness. Hint: If you have to test God's faithfulness, it is your own faith that is seriously lacking. This is a perfect example of the spiritual warfare that Satan is making ever-present in our lives. He doesn't necessarily come into full view and drag us to mountain tops to say, "Do this, and follow me," but he does tempt us with things that, when considering our eternal God, Satan is saying, "Do this, and forget about Him."
I easily compare my struggle with weight loss/dieting to this text. It's funny that Jesus also happens to be tempted initially with food, because food is pretty much my biggest temptation! And his response is just what I need to hear: "Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
- Thinking/praying point: The things that I am most tempted by are the things that are most likely to become the "bread" of my life. Is it money, junk food, a relationship, my job, my house, Netflix that sustains me? If these things are the "bread," then I am spiritually famished, and I can very easily be tempted to stray away from God's desires and from glorifying him. Instead, I need to be intentional about God's word and remembering his love and mercy so that story is my "bread."
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