Ever since the fall, human beings live to prove their worth. Everything in this world seems to demand that we earn our place in the cosmos. Satan promised Eve that if she took from the fruit, she would be like God but ironically, she already was! In this temptation, Jesus overcame Satan by showing that he does not have to put God to the test to prove who he or God is. Faith in God’s word not in circumstances or public displays to satisfy people’s curiosity is what God is looking for! In an age were influencers are measured by fame and people’s recognition, Jesus reminds us that God’s way is not the way of relevance or prominence but the way of faithfulness and authenticity when we are fully surrendered to God regardless of what we see. In the second temptation, fasting is the process God uses for us to carry the cross renouncing the world’s recognition to live for God’s approval alone.
The Desires of the Flesh: Misusing Our God-Given Powers for Selfish Gain (Part II)
