Lent is a good opportunity to break bad habits and begin some good ones. Read today's scripture about Jesus' overcoming Satan's temptations and let's be inspired to do the same in our lives..overcome temptations this Lent.
At the beginning of his earthly ministry, Jesus goes into the wilderness and is tempted by Satan. But there is something so important to notice about this story. We should see the connection to the Israelites in this account. They wandered the desert for 40 years, and during that time they succumbed to temptations.They grumbled against God because they did not trust him to supply their daily bread, they wanted to put God to the test when they were upset over their lack of water (again, not trusting God to supply it), and they worshiped a golden calf, giving the praise that should have been God’s to the golden object (Exodus 16-32). Notice that the temptations Jesus experiences are those that caused the Israelites to stumble. But unlike the Israelites, Jesus overcomes these temptations and does not succumb to Satan’s arguments or temptations. He quotes Scripture as he puts all his trust in God, enduring the discomfort of his hunger and thirst and the attacks of the tempter. He surrenders totally to his Father in love. Here we see a foreshadowing of what Jesus would accomplish on the Cross. He would defeat sin and death in a supreme act of selfless love. Brothers and sisters, as we contemplate Jesus in the desert, let’s let our hearts drink in his obedience and pray for strength to surrender our wills to God every moment of our lives.
Luke 4:1-13 (NIV)
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone." 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 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. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”9 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. 10 For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.