After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:2-4 HCSB
It seems that in today’s culture it has become very acceptable and normal for couples to live together prior to getting married. Many couples share intimate relationships outside of the marriage relationship. This is one example of mankind fulfilling a natural God-given desire at the wrong time and in the wrong way.
Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and He was hungry. Desiring food is natural, and it is acceptable to satisfy our hunger. Jesus had given up His power so He could experience humanity fully. He would not use His power to turn the stones into bread even though He could. The tempter was tempting Jesus to prove He was the Son of God and satisfy His hunger. Jesus did not need to prove He was the Son of God and this was not the right time or place to satisfy His desire for food.
Challenge: We are all tempted to satisfy normal desires in wrong ways or at the wrong times. Many of our desires are good and are God-given, but there is always a right time and place to satisfy them. Ask God to help you resist the temptations of the tempter and to experience all of the joys of life as God intended.