Christ Church Daily Devotion July 2 2024

Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness for 40 days, but he resisted and relied on Scripture. The devil tempted him to eat, worship someone other than God, and test God's power. Jesus stayed true to his identity as the Son of God and fulfilled his calling. His temptations serve as an example for us to resist temptation and live according to God's will. We can find strength in our new identity through Christ and use the Word of God to overcome temptation. It's important to have a plan to resist temptation and seek support from other believers. Welcome to Christchurch's daily devotion for July 2nd 2024. Today we will be reading from Luke chapter 4 verses 1 through 13. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. Jesus answered, It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone. The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, I will give you all their authority and splendor. It has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours. Jesus answered, It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully. They will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the stone. Jesus answered, It is said, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. And when the devil had finished all this tempting, he had left him until an opportune time. Temptation is a part of life. Jesus allowed himself to experience weakness and temptation. Though he never sinned, the devil tempted Jesus to eat when he was hungry, to worship someone other than the Lord, and to put God to the test. Jesus, weak though he was from fasting for 40 days, resisted all of these temptations, standing strong in Scripture. These temptations were a test on the identity and self-worth of Jesus. The devil said, If you are the Son of God, the voice of the Father declared this truth at Christ's baptism. Just like us, he was tempted to disbelieve the voice of God about who he was. Jesus is the Son of God, and he would live out his identity through his ministry, teaching and suffering. The devil would tempt Jesus again on the cross when people taunted, If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. He followed the will of God, lived out his identity and calling, and brought us salvation. The three temptations can also be seen as three wrong ways Jesus could have done his ministry. Jesus, both in these verses and for his entire ministry, resisted the temptation to gain popularity through feeding people, rule with power gained through compromised character, or test God and dazzle people with miracles. Satan tempted Jesus to disobey the Lord's way because it would include suffering. Jesus gave us an example. With God's help, we can overcome temptation and live God's way at work and in ministry. We will be tempted, and we can stand firm. Jesus' temptations were on a whole different level than ours, but they still give us an example to follow. We can be secure in our self-worth. We have a new identity through the resurrection. We can use the Word of God when tempted, we can lean into the support of other Christians. With Jesus, we can live God's will and not give in to social, spiritual, or material temptations. Sin is never worth it. Resist temptation. Don't give in, even when it means suffering. Overcome with Christ. Your personal worship option today. What temptations are in your life right now? What is your plan to resist temptation?