OCU C)SP D Week 04 Devotion
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MATTHEW 4 – THE TEMPTATION
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:5-7)
What greater example of overcoming temptation than the one demonstrated by the incarnate God, himself?
Jesus is in the wilderness; he has been fasting for 40 days. At Jesus’s weakest moment, the tempter, satan, is there to tempt Him with physical satisfaction, worldly glory, and global rulership; something the devil could only offer for a season.
Does Jesus yield to the tempters’ request? NO! Jesus responds, “thy shall not tempt the Lord your God”… and, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”!
No matter what deceptive plan satan devised, Jesus would not falter. Jesus would not sin against the Lord. Why may you ask? Because it was impossible for Jesus to sin. For the Lords, nature was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” Hebrews 7:26 It would be easy to say, “Well, I’m not Jesus. I sin all the time. So, what does it matter?” We must remember that through Christ’s sacrifice we are empowered by the same Holy Spirit that empowered Christ to face temptation and choose to do the right thing.
CHALLENGE
Are you at a place where your temptation seems to be insurmountable? Jesus was there. Do you feel overwhelmed by your trials and tribulations, Jesus is there! Never forget, no matter how big the mountain is, no matter how deep the ocean may feel, Jesus is right there for you 1 John 5:4 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
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Matthew 4 feels down-to-earth. Jesus is hungry, tired, and under pressure just like us. Each temptation is basically a shortcut trying to meet a real need the wrong way. Instead of relying on absolute willpower, Jesus answers with Scripture and stays rooted in what is true. That frame makes the passage practical, not distant.
Here are a few simple habits I’m trying to copy from Jesus:
• Pause before I react. Even one deep breath helps.
• Answer with truth. I keep a short verse on my lock screen (lately, “Man shall not live by bread alone…”).
• Choose a better yes. Eat, rest, or ask for help instead of grabbing the quick fix.
• Invite backup. Text a friend to pray when I’m wobbly.
Staying close to God’s word gives real strength when the shortcuts show up. -
I have had my own wilderness experiences in recent times, when temptation was overwhelming and faith was weak. But I have discovered that Jesus understands those struggles because He went through them too. When I am weak, I remind myself that the same Spirit that empowered Jesus in the wilderness now lives in me. My strength is not in my willpower but in my faith, and victory is when I trust Him and not myself. When the mountain appears too high or the storm appears too strong, I hold on to 1 John 5:4: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.”. And this is the victory that has conquered the world—our faith.” My job is to lean into that faith daily, to pray before I panic, to look to God’s Word before I act, and to trust that Jesus is right beside me regardless of how intense the battle appears.
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Even though Jesus is fully God, the enemy still presented temptations to Jesus in a vulnerable moment. Each time, the enemy tries to say something cleverly crafted to make the sinful decision seem all right to do just like he did in the Garden of Eden. Instead of being tricked by the devil, Jesus stands firm in what He knows from the Word of God and what God has spoken because He is the Word of God.
As the devotional pointed out, Christians have Jesus’ Spirit living in them, making it possible for us to receive help from the Spirit to resist temptation. Being rooted in Scripture, in our God-given identity, and in the Holy Spirit is a way to be on guard against the enemy’s tactics. Additionally, asking God for help against temptation is vital for resisting temptation as well. Unfortunately, as humans we will not be perfect at this, but God is patient to forgive us and help us resist temptation. -
When I read Matthew 4:5–7, I see Jesus standing strong in the face of temptation. The devil tried to trick Him by using Scripture, telling Jesus to jump off the highest point of the temple and prove that God would save Him. But Jesus didn’t fall for it. He answered, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and was weak and hungry. That’s when the devil came to tempt Him the most, with comfort, power, and control. But Jesus didn’t give in. He knew that true strength comes from obeying God, not from chasing what the world offers. He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
What amazes me is that Jesus never sinned, even when the devil gave Him every reason to. His nature was perfect, holy and pure. Sometimes I think, “I’m not Jesus. I mess up all the time.” But then I remember that Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit to help us resist temptation too. Because of His sacrifice, I can have the strength to say no to sin and yes to God.
When I face struggles or feel overwhelmed, I remind myself that Jesus understands what I’m going through. He’s been there. No matter how big my problems feel, He’s right there beside me, giving me faith to overcome. Like it says in 1 John 5:4, “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.” My victory comes through faith in Him.
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This is a really interesting topic as it resonates to me. I often forget to tell myself that i can never be perfect, and to BE perfect is to say that Jesus’ sacrifice was for nothing. We have to understand that we live in a world that is filled with lies, deception, and evil in general. I struggle nonetheless, but I remind myself that Jesus is always with me, His helper, the Holy Spirit inside us that burns hot for Christ. I am not the same person I was before coming to Christ, and now I am able to resist those temptations more frequently and easily only because that same empowerment that Jesus had, we have in us. Carrying to cross daily, keeping up with the fight and living through Christ is the only path that allows me to love Him more.
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Matthew 4 teaches us about trusting God completely, especially during times of temptation and weakness. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He showed perfect obedience and faith. Even after fasting for forty days, He relied on God’s Word and refused to give in to the devil’s lies. This story reminds us that real strength comes from depending on God, not ourselves.
The Sabbath is a special time to rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. It gives us space to renew our spirit and remember that Jesus has already overcome the world. When we face our own temptations, worries, or struggles, we can follow Jesus’ example by turning to prayer and Scripture for help. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we too can resist temptation and stay faithful. The Sabbath reminds us that we are never alone, God is with us, giving us strength, peace, and victory through faith.
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Jesus didn’t give in to temptation, even when He was exhausted and hungry. Instead of arguing with Satan, He stood firm on God’s Word. That’s powerful. He didn’t need to prove anything. He trusted what God had already said. And the good news is that the same Holy Spirit that gave Jesus strength lives in us as well.
When temptation feels overwhelming, or life feels like too much, we don’t have to fight alone. We can lean on God’s truth and know that Jesus understands exactly what we’re going through. He has been there, and He is still with us.
It isn’t about being perfect. It’s about choosing to trust God when things get hard. That is where our strength comes from. We have the power to overcome, because Jesus already did. This isn’t just a promise; it is a truth we can stand on every single day. -
This is such a powerful reminder of how Jesus modeled true strength and obedience in the face of temptation. Even after fasting for 40 days and being physically weak, He stood firm on God’s Word instead of giving in to momentary satisfaction or worldly power. What stands out most is that Jesus didn’t rely on His own willpower; He relied on Scripture and the Spirit. That same Spirit now lives in us, giving us the ability to resist temptation and stand strong when life tests us. When we’re overwhelmed or feel like giving up, we can remember that Jesus already conquered sin and gave us victory through faith. Temptation may be real, but God’s power in us is greater. Every time we turn to Him instead of giving in, we reflect the same victory Jesus showed in the wilderness. Our faith truly overcomes the world.
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This passage from Matthew 4:5–7 highlights the profound wisdom and humility of Jesus during a moment of intense spiritual challenge. After enduring forty days without food, Jesus was confronted by Satan, who sought to undermine His purpose and identity through cunning temptations. Rather than engaging in a battle of ego or relying on His own strength, Jesus chose to anchor Himself in the truth of Scripture. When Satan manipulated God’s Word to provoke Him, Jesus calmly corrected the distortion, emphasizing the importance of trusting God rather than demanding signs or proofs.
What stands out in this encounter is not just Jesus’ ability to resist, but his unwavering commitment to God’s plan, even when vulnerable. It’s easy to feel distant from this example, thinking that such resolve is unattainable for ordinary people. Yet, the passage invites us to see Jesus not only as a model of faithfulness but as the source of our own ability to endure. His victory over temptation is a gift that empowers us, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles.
When we face moments of doubt or pressure, this story encourages us to rely on God’s promises and presence, rather than our own resources. Jesus’ journey through the wilderness assures us that He understands our weaknesses and walks alongside us. Ultimately, our hope and strength come from the faithfulness of Christ, who has already overcome every trial on our behalf. -
There are times where things do seem hopeless or I am just so overwhelmed and I have no clue what to do. It would be best to take Jesus’s example and confront it without fear like Jesus did with satan. He not only answered satan back with verses when satan tried to trick Him, but also not fall into the temptation of whatever satan was offering Him. This shows how resilient Jesus was not only not be tricked by satan, but to do it on top of fasting for 40 days.
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