January 18
(Luke 4:2-3 NIV) ““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.””
(Matthew 26:40-41 NIV) ““Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. {41} "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.””
(James 1:13-14 NIV) ““When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; {14} but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.””
Temptation often appeals to our physical desires. Jesus was hungry after forty days of fasting. The devil tempted Him to create food instead of trusting God to care for Him. Satan appeals to our physical desires to obtain spiritual victory. He knows our weaknesses and watches for openings. The flesh is in almost constant tension with the spirit. Even when the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. When we are in need, temptation gains strength. It gets louder and more aggressive. It is amazing how temptation often fits perfectly with the need or craving we have. But we always have a choice. We cannot fault God for not meeting our physical needs. If the desires were not within us, there could be no temptation. Neither is the temptation at fault when we make wrong choices. Our desires give temptation its power. Satan used Christ’s hunger to tempt Him. What is the devil using with you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day
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