Luke 4:3

New International Version

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

For Meditation

Do you recognize the sound of it?

“If you are the…” Its refrain is “Are you not…” Many have fallen on this sword. It is the sound of power play—a challenge to the self. The ego always becomes its first victim, and the rest is history. People play this game of thrones everywhere, and its victims are those who usurp the authority of Christ.

The claims of this game are not always wrong. Turning the stone into bread for a hungry Jesus after forty days and nights of fasting was not a terrible proposal (4:3). Jesus had the power to do so. But who was speaking? What interest did the devil have in the Lord’s situation? What was his ulterior motive? Answering these questions is the path to victory over every temptation.

Satan intended to derail the whole redemption agenda before the train pulled out of the station. If he could get the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) to defile Himself, Jesus would have disqualified Himself as the perfect sacrifice. So, why not strike hard when Jesus seemed weak and vulnerable (Luke 4:2)? Satan does the same with God’s children all the time. Thank God that His power is always perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’” (4).

The question for Jesus has never been who He is. His status as the Son of God is indisputable. He did not need the devil to tell Him to prove it by exercising His transformational power. Nor do you.  

You do not have to prove your authority to anyone in any situation. You know who you are in Christ. So, recognize the source of that urge in you and rebuke it as Jesus did (Luke 4:4). Just remain faithful in your God-given role. Glorify the Father by listening for His voice in every situation and obey His word alone. That is your challenge and victory.

Have you heard from Jesus today?