The Word of God

In Luke 4, Jesus is preparing for His public ministry. Before starting, Jesus walks with the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where Satan is waiting to tempt Jesus. Satan is not easy on Jesus. The temptations are hard. Food for a hungry belly after forty days of fasting and self-denial. The Devil offer Jesus the world at His feet. Gone would be the struggle to conquer hearts and the need for the life transforming work of the cross. Satan offers Jesus the company of angels instead of the press of the people. It is a temptation that speaks to Jesus’ longing for home and the divine connection He shares with God. The only problem with the temptations is that Jesus has to do is walk away from God’s will and serve Himself. In order to accept what Satan offers, Jesus has to rely on Himself, worship the Devil, and test the love of God. It is an unacceptable choice. So what will He do?

Each time Jesus answers the temptations with the Word of God. Jesus knows that His time on earth will be hard. People will flock to Him for the wrong reasons, reject His call, and hang Him on a cross. But Jesus also knows that some will respond. That people will be saved. That for generations to come, man will be able to turn to God and find forgiveness, mercy, and grace. It is in this knowledge and relationship that Jesus has with His Father that calls Jesus to surrender to the hard things of life. It is the desire to walk in the will of God that guides the footsteps of Jesus away from the path of sin.

The Word of God still calls to man. It still stands strong in the face of temptation. It still leads us into the will of God. Embed the Bible this week, and see the power of God at work in your life.

1. What temptations do you struggle with?

2. How does the Word of God encourage and empower you to walk with Jesus?