Temptation: When Right Becomes Wrong
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"Then the devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf [of bread]. And Jesus replied to him, It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone [but by every word and expression of God."
Luke 4:3-4 AMP (suggested reading for this week: Luke 4:1-15)
Thoughts for Today
The Holy Spirit led Jesus to the desert, where he was fasting for 40 days. And the Bible says, the devil tempted him for the duration of that 40 days.
The first temptation Jesus faced in this wilderness experience involved hunger, physical need. Is eating to satisfy our hunger wrong? Of course not. But Jesus had been led by the Spirit and had made a commitment to fast during this time period. To break the fast by putting his desire for food above his commitment to the Father would have been sin.
There are many desires we experience day to day that are normal and good. To succeed on a job. To dress nicely. To engage in a hobby. To prosper financially. To enjoy shopping. To commit to a relationship. To spend time on the computer. Participating in a ministry. And the list goes on. These things are not wrong in themselves, but they are wrong if they become more important to us than our relationship with the Lord. God's plan and God's leading must always come first.
Consider this …
Jesus responded to the temptation by quoting Scripture. "Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone [but by every word and expression of God." In other words, spiritual matters and faithfulness to God are more important than physical needs.
Take a moment to think about your life. Is there an area that is taking control? That is causing you to slide in your relationship with God? That is tempting you to make wrong choices? If so, now is the time to get back on track. To turn to God's Word. To say no to the temptation.
Prayer
Father, I realize that there is an area in my life that is causing me to slide in my relationship with you. I am looking to the Scriptures for guidance. Please help me get back on track. In Jesus' name . . .
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©Living Free 2020. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
