At All Costs
SCRIPTURE
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matt. 4:1-4
OBSERVATION
Jesus was the true example of someone who was steadfast and one with a flawless reputation. He never broke down and gave into selfishness and showed us the greatest definition of self-control. If you put yourself in Jesus’ shoes and think if you didn’t eat for forty days and nights, you would feel very depleted or as they say now “hangry.” If we miss one meal or even a couple hours pass our normal eating time, we get irritable. Can you imagine doing that for 40 days? God showed us through His Son the greatest example of what it means to “die to yourself.” Many of us would’ve probably given in to satisfy our immediate hunger pains but Jesus teaches us through this that our lives do not depend on our next meal…it relies on the Word of God and the power of Jesus Christ.
APPLICATION
I know for myself, I am always talking with my husband or my friends about what restaurant to try next or what meal we are craving but do I have this same zest talking about the Word of God? More than that, do we “crave” the Word of God as if it’s all we have to live on. To live as Christ lived and never give into temptation, selfishness, or compromise our reputation…do we truly live all that we should be? We have to count all the costs and not get caught up into the busyness of life but live as if the Word of God is all we have and our last breath depended on it.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to live as you lived. I want my reputation to reflect that which is when people see me, all they see is you. I don’t want to feed my cravings of selfishness or impatience or anything that is less than what you want from us, but rather all the attributes you showed us when you were being tempted in the wilderness. I don’t want to give in but be steadfast and stalwart in my walk with you and at the end of the day- I always chose YOU! Lord, may my life always please you and may my actions bring you delight. I love you with all my heart! Amen
