Day 34 – First Temptation

“And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:3-4

Sometimes it feels like we face more than three temptations a day, right? I mean … chocolate cake *sigh*. Jesus faced three temptations in the wilderness, but each one is a foundational core of all the temptations we have and ever will face.

The first temptation is on our humanity made in God’s image. The accuser tempts our physical need first and told Jesus to turn the stones into bread. The composition of the stones in the Judean mountains is composed of flint and limestone. They are flat in shape and resemble the hard loaves baked by the people of the time. Satan knew the physical weakness of Jesus’ body after the 40 days – He was hungry.

Temptation is always overcome by scripture, as Jesus lived by example. Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, “Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and by your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥.” Jesus emphasizes the provision of 40 years in the wilderness from heaven, and His Spirit-filled provision during the 40 days, reminding Satan that our physical needs are met by God’s Word.

Pray with me: Dear Lord, I face temptation daily and sometimes fall for it as Eve did in the Garden of Eden. Help me, Lord, to overcome temptations by countering with Your Word. Thank You that Jesus gave the example to overcome temptation. Amen. ©

Love, Pastor Iriza