Luke 4:1-13

I don’t know about you, but I find myself tempted quite often in life. (Should I say daily? Mountain Dew and Twinkies seem to scream louder than water and carrot sticks. I could go on, but I don’t want to reveal too much about myself.)

We are told that Jesus, being human, was also tempted. The stage was set as he was alone in the wilderness for forty days. During this time he was without food, and his hunger was real.

The folks who sat down to create the Spark Story Bible for children included the story of Jesus being tempted in their compilation of treasured tales, and they recounted:

Jesus got very hungry. His stomach was rumbling! The devil came to Jesus and tried to tempt him. ‘If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to turn to bread for you to eat.’ Jesus remembered God’s words and answered, ‘No one can live on food alone.’

In reporting each of the three direct temptations, they remind the readers that Jesus rebuffed the devil’s jabs by remembering more of God’s words. And each time, with those words in mind, Jesus was able to say ‘no’ to Satan.

Knowing that some more powerful temptations are around the corners, we might want to get ready by reading.

Prayer

We have read that Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we travel a road filled with temptations, give us a hunger for Your word and a way to say no to that which might destroy our souls. Amen.