In this weeks Gospel Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus is taken to the desert and while fasted, was taken into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the Satan. At first it may seem like the devils plan but this was God at work. It was God showing the world that Jesus was indeed the great redeemer. I believe that God brings us to tough times only to get us through them. He allows us to see who he his.
While in the desert and Satan asks “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”
Jesus replies “It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.”
So yes, the devil failed. It was a nice try considering Jesus was starving after a 40 day fast. Isn’t that how the Devil I operates ? He hits you when you are down. Hoping to finally break your spirit. Like Jesus we are always called to resist. After the first failed attempt, the Devil strikes again. This time he takes Jesus up on top of temple and says “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Jesus replies “It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Jesus’s reply was straightforward. Do not tempt me. Don’t even bother. He is letting the devil know that it’s not even an option. His faith is that strong that it is simply a waste of time for the devil. We too can show that kind of faith. The faith that no matter what we have going on, God is with us. In Satan’s third attempt he took Jesus to the top of a mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. Then Satan says “All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me.” Jesus says to him “Begone, Satan: for it is written, The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.” Once again Jesus let’s the devil know that only God is the answer. Nobody or No thing can get in the way. Begone, it’s only God that I believe in. Another failed attempt and after that Satan left Jesus alone.
Like Jesus we are always tempted to give in to the Devil or our lower nature. The side of us that we try to keep hidden. The side of us that we are probably ashamed of even having. I think that since we are human it’s ok to acknowledge that there are aspects of ourselves that we are working on. We all have parts of our character that we are refining or trying to eliminate. What I have found to be true for me is that God is the beginning and the end of it all. The temptations, the wins, the losses the ups and the downs are all part of God’s plan. I believe that the refining of our character takes place in the desert. We are made whole only after be broken. We are made to win only after a few losses. The real question becomes can your faith endure? Can your faith out last temptation after temptation to give in and give up believing. Can you get up and fight another day on Gods terms? Can you do what is right instead of what the world wants. The world wants the kingdoms. As believers we just want God. We want God at the center of our lives. Even if it means a little hunger. Even if it means a little sacrifice. We continue to tell the Devil to begone. Like Jesus we are called to choose God every time in the face of temptation. Who do you choose when the sun is setting on a cold winter night and you are locked outside? Who do you choose when you are down and the devil shows up to drag you down a little more? Who are you choosing to believe when the storm clouds are forming? We as believers always choose God. We choose The God that sent his son to earth and allowed him to be tempted, suffer, die and rise again. We are called to follow the example set by Jesus. We believe.
