“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” — Matthew 4:1
During Lent, we journey toward the cross, following in Jesus’ footsteps. He began His public ministry by stepping into the wilderness. For forty days, He fasted, prayed, and faced the full force of Satan’s temptations. And yet, He did not sin.
Temptation is an inevitable part of our walk with God. Like Jesus, we are tested in ways that strike at our deepest desires—security, significance, and power. The enemy whispers lies, twisting God’s truth. He did the same in the garden with Eve and in the wilderness with Jesus. But where Adam and Eve failed, Christ triumphed.
Jesus in the wilderness
When Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, He responded, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4). When offered all the kingdoms of the world, Jesus resisted, declaring, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” (Matthew 4:10). He met each temptation with Scripture, standing firm in the truth of His Father’s Word. Jesus’ response to temptation was rooted in knowing and trusting the Scriptures. He was not merely resisting evil; He was clinging to the goodness and sufficiency of God.
The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.” (Jen Wilkin)
As we face our own struggles—whether the temptation to seek comfort in things other than God, to control rather than trust, or to compromise for approval—we can follow Jesus’ example. Overcoming temptation is not through sheer willpower but through dependence on the Spirit, immersion in God’s Word, and worship of the only worthy One.
Temper my intemperance, O Lord,
O hallowed, O adored,
My heart’s creator, mighty, wild,
Temper Thy bewildered child.
Blaze my eye and blast my ear,
Let me never fear to fear
Nor forget what I have heard,
Even your voice, my Lord,
Even your Word.
(poetry by Madeline L’Engle)
Christ’s victory in the wilderness is our hope. He understands our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), and through Him, we have the strength to stand firm (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Today, traverse the wilderness with Jesus, trust God, lean on Him, saturate ourselves in the Word, and walk in the power of the Spirit.
Prayer
God, You who spoke the world into being
Who wrote the Words of Life
Who is the Word of Light and Life
Fill us with desire to know You,
Open our eyes to behold the wonders of Your Word,
Lead us in Your truth, and teach us
May we wait for You all the day long—
And in the waiting, resist the evil one
And his enticements –
For Your glory and our good. Amen.
