Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Matthew 4:1 HCSB
My favorite movie of all time is “It’s a Wonderful Life”. George Bailey was tempted to take his own life because everything seemed to be falling apart around him and he thought he was worth more dead than alive. We are all tempted in various ways. Some are tempted to lie and cheat while others are tempted by alcohol and drugs. Some are tempted by fame and fortune while others are tempted by sex outside of marriage. The list is endless of the many ways men are tempted.
This verse in Matthew tells us that Jesus, the Son of God, was purposefully led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. This was immediately after His baptism when the voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” As in life there are ups and downs. Jesus went from the spiritual high of His baptism to His temptation in the wilderness. Note that both the Spirit and the Devil were present in the wilderness.
Jesus was human. He had to be tempted in every way that man is tempted. He never yielded to temptation; because He was perfect, He became the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross and shedding His blood.
Challenge: God may allow us to be tempted to test us, but He Himself does not tempt. It is the Devil that tempts people to go against God’s laws. To be tempted is not a sin. It is when we fall into the temptation that we sin. Ask God to give you the strength needed to defeat the Devil and his temptations.