As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Then, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the temple's highest point. “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.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11
Twice, the tempter said, “If you are the Son of God.”
If You are...prove it!
The purpose of the temptation was not to get Jesus to eat or to prove He couldn’t be injured.
The temptation was to prove Who he was.
The temptation was to prove who He was by his actions, even though before His ministry had even begun, His Father had proclaimed;
This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.”
It attacked Jesus' identity as the beloved of the Father. The Son of the Father. The Father, Who is enough and provides every good and perfect gift.
So, if you think the tempter would attack Jesus at the point of His identity, do you think He would do the same against you and me?
Duh. (Such a theologically profound statement)
Yes, this temptation comes in many shapes and colors but always has the same motive. To get you and me to deny our identity as His beloved children. Children of a perfect Abba Father.
Some examples from the tempter's voice:
"If you were a Christian, you would or wouldn't do..."
"How could anyone love you after what you have done or said?"
"If you can't love yourself, how do you expect God to love you?"
Remember, the battlefield for our identity starts in the mind and moves to the heart. The thoughts will keep coming and hitting and damaging their intended target… until you know that you are His beloved child.
You will wake up one day and find that you have moved from playing defense to being on offense by telling others of His perfect love. That is the 'Shield of Faith,’ believing He loves you without condition. You will always remain a target, but your receptor sites will become smaller and less penetrable by faith.
You are His beloved child.
As you meditate on the above, where do you find yourself as a target of the "flaming darts" of the enemy? (Ephesians 6:16)
Which lies about God’s love have you been susceptible to believing?
Search the Gospels to know how much God loves you and share with someone else.
Lord, may we believe, lean on, and trust the width, height, depth, and length of Your love. For Your love identifies us as Your beloved. Amen