Volume 7: Jesus Was Tempted 7/16/23

JESUS WAS TEMPTED (MATTHEW 4; LUKE 4)

We’ve all felt some degree of hunger at one time or another. We may have had a long day at work with no time for lunch and come home hungry. We may have had a hard workout and found ourselves craving a large meal shortly afterward. We may have skipped breakfast in a hurry to get to church only to hear our stomach growl as the pastor shares that he’s wrapping up for the third time. Hunger reminds us that there is something we require to satisfy a physical need. 

Have you ever felt a similar sense of hunger deep in your soul, a hunger for God? Have you ever found yourself longing for a moment with God, an experience of His Spirit, a message from His Word? 

The temptation of Jesus teaches us how to face temptation ourselves, but it also subtly reminds us of the blessing that comes as we hunger for God. 

The first experience of temptation for Jesus came in the form of the enemy, Satan, tempting Him to use His power to turn stones into bread. Jesus’ response reminds us that feeding on God’s Word is the ultimate source of satisfaction. 

In our own lives, we may hunger for a million different things. We may deeply desire companionship, food, a feeling, money, a job, notoriety, and so on. Those things can all be very good things, but they are not what Jesus was referring to when He spoke to the tempter. 

Jesus spoke to the blessing that comes in hungering and thirsting for God Himself because, as is the case in all things Jesus said and did, He is God and knows what’s best. 

What do you long for above all else? Do you find a deep longing in your soul for God? Do you recognize that nothing else in this world will satisfy that desire? And are you satisfied with Him giving you Himself to meet your greatest need? Not only does the Scripture say that there is blessing in hungering for God, but your experience will also prove that nothing will satisfy you like He can and will.