The Second Temptation

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “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.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” - Matthew 4:5-7

This is the second temptation Jesus faced in the desert. The first temptation, to turn  stones into bread, was to fix his situation (his hunger) by solving it himself. Jesus chose, instead of allowing his identity to be based on what he did, to base his identity on his Father said about him. This second temptation is to prove himself - making God rescue him - by jumping off the Temple. We'll talk more about the public nature of this temptation tomorrow, but today, let's look at Jesus's response.

Jesus responded to the Tempter that he won't test God. Instead of testing his Father, Jesus chose trusting his Father. In the verses just before this section of the bible, the Father called Jesus "my beloved son," and Jesus chose to to embrace that truth deep into his soul. That's why he didn't fall into the temptation to prove God loved him - because he already knew it deep within.

Today you will be tempted to prove your worth. You will be tempted to try to find your identity in some other person, some achievement, or some possession. Will you hold on to what God says about you?