Focus

Turn off your cell phone, TV, or radio. Listen to the silence that is around you. Listen for God to speak to you.

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Read

Luke 4:1-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
Then the devi led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’

and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

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Reflect

Of the three temptations that Jesus experiences, two of them call into question His sonship. It’s interesting that these temptations come right after His baptism where He and everyone who witnessed it heard the audible affirmation of God the Father with the words, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with You I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)

Often in the dark moments of temptation, our relationship to God as sons and daughters is called into question. When this happens we must remember that in Christ we have been “predestined for adoption as children” (Ephesians 1:5), and that means that God’s words that were spoken over Christ at His baptism are also for us.

Today, when you are faced with temptation, remember the words, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with You I am well pleased.”

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Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for placing me in Christ and adopting me into Your family. Thank You for sending Your Son to die in my place for my sins so that I could receive newness of life. Send the Holy Spirit to empower me to fight against the voice of temptation with the truth of Your Word. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Go with God!