Sunday 26 Feb 2023

February 26: Matthew 4:1-11

Key Verse: Matthew 4:11
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Devotion:
When was the last time you gave up on something because it got a bit too hard to carry on? If we are honest we can all admit to giving up before we should, and then carrying on with something else far longer than we should do! Our judgment on things of this world is not always as good as it should be because we are swayed by earthly things as well as emotions and peer pressure!

Jesus probably knew He was going to have to face the evil one at some stage in His human existence, and after fasting for 40 days He was probably at His weakest point of all. I find it hard to fast for a single day, never mind multiple days! But Jesus had put His mind to it and knew God was going to look out for Him – not to see if God would look after Him!

The evil one approached Jesus and tried to get Him to tempt God or to perform a miracle for Himself so He could eat. Jesus was not going to give in to the temptations which the devil would throw at Him! Just when you think things are at their worst, the evil one may well approach you in some manner and try to dig a little more out of you; not because he wants to see you suffer, because he wants to see if he can tempt God into doing things!

Jesus did not call out to God during this visit and certainly was not going to give in to the temptations or peer pressure being exerted on Him by the devil! Instead Jesus stuck up for God by upholding the scriptures and reminding the evil one of the truth. When the devil could stand it no more he demanded Jesus should worship him instead! Seeing right through that Jesus reminded him of the commandments to serve God alone, the very one he had broken to be cast out of heaven!

Points to Ponder:
Do you give in too easily?

Will you trust God a bit more like Jesus did?