Tempted Not to Trust

 

Lent has begun and many of us have given up things like eating sweets, drinking coffee, even chocolate. Some even go on fasts during this time. However, some will find sights of sweets, chocolate brownies, and smell of coffee to tempt them away from their promise of withholding.

Our Luke 4 passage talks about another forty-day period of fasting that Jesus went through. If this wasn’t enough, at the end of it, the devil comes to tempt him.

First, he tempts his hunger, his human need for food by telling him to use his power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus answers, “Man does not live by bread alone.” He is talking about the spiritual needs that bring true life.

The devil tries again by tempting him with power by offering him authority over the whole world if Jesus will bow down and worship the devil. Again, Jesus quotes scripture. “We shall worship only the Lord your God.”

Being denied by Christ quoting scripture, the devil uses scripture itself to tempt Jesus. It is from Psalms 91 which we read this morning. The devil tempts him to throw himself off the temple since scripture says the angels will protect you, so you won’t dash your foot against the stone. Jesus doesn’t dispute this verse but rejects the use it when he quotes a verse from Deuteronomy. “You shall not put the Lord God to the test.” This is a commandment from Moses referring to the time when the Israelites didn’t trust in the Lord to provide water for them and demanded a miracle.

Jesus doesn’t need his faith in God the Father tested. So, the devil leaves him alone. Interestingly in the Matthew account of this account, angels do come to wait on him after the devil leaves.

In our Psalms 91 passage it tells how God is our fortress and refuge in whom we trust and when we do, no evil shall befall us. God’s angels will guard and protect us in all our ways. Those who love God, God will deliver and be with during troubled times.

Jesus knew this. God would keep him through days of hunger. He had faith that God would provide in time. He didn’t need to fall for any of the devil’s temptations. God would rescue and honor him.

The temptations we face during this time of Lent are nothing compared to what Christ went through. Yet we may find ourselves not trusting in the Lord to provide and protect us and try what the world may offer as “instant gratification” – a way out of our problems – which many times makes things worse, instead of waiting on the Lord to rescue and honor us.

No matter what you may choose to give up for Lent this year, you may just succumb to the temptation of eating that cake or that chocolate, yet God will forgive you. Most important though this Lent season may we grow in our love and trust of God as our fortress and refuge.

 

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