Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread."
But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,
—Matthew 4:1-4 NLT
Just as Israel faced the battle of temptation in the desert, Jesus does, too. But unlike Israel which always seemed to get hung up on physical needs rather than following God, Jesus chose to honor and focus on the Father rather than himself. Nowhere is this focus seen more clearly than in the two great temptation crises of his ministry: his temptations here and in the Garden shortly before his death. In both situations, and in all the others in between, Jesus chose the Father's will and the Father's glory over his own needs and desires. The Father's word, the Father's will, was what Jesus fed on more than physical food. He is our example that we should not try to live a day without our spiritual food, or our souls will be hungrier than our bellies on a 40 day fast!
O Father, God who fills every empty place and fulfills every need, stir me to a holy hunger for your word and an insatiable appetite to do your will. I confess that I find it so hard to keep my mind off the distractions my undisciplined appetite craves, so please help me learn that my only lasting answer to true hunger is with you. Through the grace of Jesus' intercession, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread."
But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,
—Matthew 4:1-4 NLT
Key Thought
Just as Israel faced the battle of temptation in the desert, Jesus does, too. But unlike Israel which always seemed to get hung up on physical needs rather than following God, Jesus chose to honor and focus on the Father rather than himself. Nowhere is this focus seen more clearly than in the two great temptation crises of his ministry: his temptations here and in the Garden shortly before his death. In both situations, and in all the others in between, Jesus chose the Father's will and the Father's glory over his own needs and desires. The Father's word, the Father's will, was what Jesus fed on more than physical food. He is our example that we should not try to live a day without our spiritual food, or our souls will be hungrier than our bellies on a 40 day fast!
Today's Prayer
O Father, God who fills every empty place and fulfills every need, stir me to a holy hunger for your word and an insatiable appetite to do your will. I confess that I find it so hard to keep my mind off the distractions my undisciplined appetite craves, so please help me learn that my only lasting answer to true hunger is with you. Through the grace of Jesus' intercession, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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