How to Deal with Temptation - Jesus' Style

Matthew 4:1-4

After Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Spirit, who had lighted on Him like a dove, into the desert - specifically to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus' response, or perhaps His purpose and view of the time spent there, was to fast and pray for forty days and nights.

After that, when He was hungry, the tempter came and suggested that if He was the Son of God, He should turn the stones into bread. (Would that be like a little confirmation fleece, to make sure He really was the Son of God?)

Jesus answered using God's Word, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

I can spot several points to ponder, or meanings, here.

1. The start of a new filling of the Holy Spirit, and a new ministry will probably involve a period of temptation. The best way to deal with it is in fasting and prayer.

2. Maybe when I ask God for a little confirmation fleece to reassure me I'm really on the right track, it is a temptation from Satan too. I'd never thought of it in this light before.

3. The best answer to temptation is to know and quote the Word of God as it applies to that situation.

What we need most then, is to discern and recognize temptation, and to have God's Word at the ready to answer before we have time to yield to the disobedient thing suggested to us.

PRAYER: Oh Lord God, so often the temptation to just look after our own personal needs hits us so strong. Our culture teaches us to take care of ourselves, so it seems perfectly natural. Here You show us that we are to make doing Your will a higher priority than feeding our personal needs. Help me to keep Your Word first and foremost! .