Call in the New TestamentJesus and His Calls in Ministry Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) Called to ProclaimLuke 4:1-13 The MessageTested by the Devil4 1-2 Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights, he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up, he was hungry. 3 The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to really live.” 5-7 For the second test, he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me, and they’re yours, the whole works.” 8 Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.” 9-11 For the third test, the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, “If you are God’s Son, jump. It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?” 12 “Yes,” said Jesus, “and it’s also written, ‘Don’t you dare tempt the Lord your God.’” 13 That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity. For ReflectionAll of us have been tempted from time to time as Christ was. The fear for our safety, our desire for accumulating and power, even challenging God by thinking that we can do or say anything because, being "saved," we hold a special relationship with God.
Our most difficult human challenge is to honor the freedom God bestows and temper our human desires with obedience to God's will. PrayPray so that you will measure your human desire by the call of God to be God's humble servant. Forward to a friend |