Read Matthew 4:1-11
On the heels of a great spiritual and emotional high point of his baptism and epiphany, Jesus was led into the wilderness for what would amount to a vision quest. For 40 days he fasted and prayed. At the end of this experience he was tempted by the devil in three major ways. Jesus' responses to these common foolish opportunities would set the course for his leadership and ministry.
1) Use your ability to gratify yourself. This is the selfish/pleasure path of a fool. Jesus chooses to rely on the word of God and not simply use his power and ability to turn rocks into cupcakes.
2) Use your position to manipulate others into exalting you. How impressive it would be to have the angels rescue him from a fall from the Temple. Jesus chose to not test His Father, but to take a humble path of faith.
3) Use your power to command others to worship your worthiness. Jesus resisted this temptation as well and chose to worship and to submit to His Father. Instead of exalting himself, he served others and showed others how to worship God.
It is natural and normal for our hearts to hear the temptations of the enemy and simply seek to meet our own needs, and manipulate situations and people to get what we want primarily because we think we deserve it. We tend to think that the world revolves around us and desires. To really do anything else requires help from outside our own hearts. We need God's help to:
1) See others
2) Choose to help and serve others
3) Use our position and resources to see others benefit.
This temptation experience set the course for Jesus as He submitted to His and was led by the Holy Spirit. Also for you, the choice is always there: self or others. Will you use your position, influence, and resources today to help someone?
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