“When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13).

We may resist the devil and he may flee, but he will come back at an opportune time.  The devil is prowling around seeking someone to devour.  Resist him and trust in the word of the lord.  Every test will serve a purpose.  Let the word of the Lord grow deep in you so that you may be able to resist temptations and live in the Father’s will.  Know that the Lord is always with You and will guide you if you trust in Him.

Lord, I am often tempted.  There are many things in each day which get in the way of my plans.  Help me to see that this pattern has been constant in my life.  Of course, there are things happening all around me and to me which I do not like, but that does not change Your sovereignty.  You have promised that it will all work together for good.  Help me to trust in the truth of Your promise.

Lord Jesus, You underwent temptation to a level that few if any have ever experienced, yet in the same way that all of us experience temptation.  Help me to understand that You have given me the example (It is written) of how to resist and when I fail, to trust in Your grace to sustain me.  The times for temptation will come; but lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil so that I may abide in You now and forever.  Amen.

“And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Luke 4:12).

When those times come when we make demands of the Lord, as if we had any ability to tell the Lord what to do, we cross a line and test the Lord.  This is a place where pride takes over and it is a battle of wills.  Of course, we have no power, and our pride is a figment of our imagination.  The Lord’s will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Learn to trust the Lord no matter the circumstances that surround you.

Lord, I have fallen into this trap many times.  I have tested You, thinking that my thoughts were more important.  Make it clear so that this line is not crossed.  When faith is tested, help all of your faithful to see that the unfolding events of this age are filled with sin and that sin is sloppy.  Greater always is Your grace which is preparing all who believe to become like Christ.  We are being made into Your children.

Lord Jesus, with succinct clarity You named the temptation and taught us to not cross this line.  Thy will be done.  Thy will be done in me.  Guide me so that I may live according to the Father’s will and not live with the conditionality that is often a trap into which I fall.  My salvation is assured in You alone.  Lead me to live each day in that assurance, knowing that all which needs to happen, will.  Amen.

“And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone’” (Luke 4:9-11).

The devil tempts us with things that are beyond our power or control.  If you are a Christian, then you must have superpowers.  It is a lie of course, but many fall for it.  We are just ordinary human beings.  God gives opportunity for each one of us, and we have the ability to walk in obedience, doing whatever it is that is before us.  The world and Satan will do whatever they do.  This age is a mess and messy things happen.

Lord, teach me to see the mess of sin in this world so that I do not fall for the temptation that arises in me to dwell in pride.  I can do nothing apart from You.  You are the One who has all power and authority.  Help me to remember that I need prove nothing to anyone, for Your promise is the foundation of my faith.  You may shield me, or something sinful may happen to me; either way, You are still God.

Lord Jesus, in this world filled with waffling conditionality, help me to hold fast to the singular truth that You have redeemed me and that I am blessed by Your grace.  No matter what happens in this life, guide me to live in the goodness You have demonstrated so that I live by faith, not tossed about by the insanity of this world.  Lead me today to humbly go where You send me and do what You give me to do.  Amen.

“Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.”  Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only’” (Luke 4:7-8).

There are only a few basic temptations and the multiple variety of the forms that they take: lots of stuff, power, and questioning God when things are not the way you want them to be.  This world tempts us with opportunities for power and authority.  All power and authority belong to the Lord.  Our Creator is the only One who is worthy of worship.  Everything else is the stuff He made.

Lord, in this world there are so many temptations, but they really are pretty consistent.  You have created each one of us and we are Yours.  We gain what we attain and You appoint whom You appoint to have authority.  I am Yours.  We all are.  Help me to know this in my heart so that I may learn from You how to live in the loving relationship You offer through the faith You give.

Lord Jesus, You have come to unite us in a bond of love that is eternal.  I am tempted to worship the things of creation, but You offer true worship.  Lead me in the way of living such that I may abide in You and You in me all the days of this life in preparation for the life You offer me where I may abide with You in eternity.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy.  Amen.

“And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish” (Luke 4:5-6).

The devil is a liar.  The world is not his.  It has never been.  Like all of the tyrants who have ever lived, he acts as if the lies he spews are true.  The devil makes nothing.  He perverts what has been created.  He calls for others to worship the created – beginning with him – and not worship the One who created all things.  What good does it do to gain everything knowing that you will die and all that you have gained will go to another?

Lord God and Savior of us all, You have tolerated the foolishness of liars who come along and pretend with great fervor that what they speak is true.  Truth is that which is.  You are truth.  Living in an age where there is much confusion, because of all of the lies, open our minds and hearts to know when we are being lied to.  Help the faithful to cling to what is true and reject lies.

Lord Jesus, hungry and alone, You were tempted beyond what any of us could endure.  You have overcome for our sake.  I have fallen for the lies of this world.  I have lived as though things were mine.  You have shown me that the life I have is a gift You give.  Guide me out of the tangle of lies that this world spews that I may live with You.  You are the way, the truth and the life.  Help me this day to abide in You.  Amen.

“And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”  And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Luke 4:3-4).

This world is constantly promoting the next greatest thing to satisfy us: more, more, and more, for you never have enough. Yet, these things cannot satisfy.  We live in an impoverished world where so many have so much in the way of stuff but are famished for what is real and true.  Man does not live by the material things of this world alone.  We were created to be in a loving relationship with the Lord.

Lord, I am a product of a culture that produces consumer products and guides us to consume.  You know this and You know the damage the sin has done to my soul.  Lead me through all of those places where I need to repent in order to come to the place where I live the life You offer.  You have written the words I need to hear; help me so that I take them in and Your word becomes a part of who I am.

Lord Jesus, You have called me by Your grace to come into the eternal and loving relationship You and the Father have.  You have enabled me; and Your word speaks of the things I need to know.  Help me to be intent upon learning and growing according to the words You have given.  Help me to resist the temptations that come my way.  Through all things, help me to become like You.  Amen.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry” (Luke 4:1-2).

Our Lord went on our behalf and to the brink of physical endurance.  He fasted and prayed.  He was tempted by the devil.  We are also tempted by the devil.  The devil hates humans.  He drives many into his hatred with fear.  The Lord has come to deliver us from the destruction the devil has wrought upon humanity through temptation.  We sin, but often this comes first through the temptations that are presented before us.

Lord, I know there is no excuse for sin, and I am guilty; but there are so many temptations that are placed in front of me day after day.  This age is filled with sin all around.  Grant me a new mind that sees these things and help me by Your grace to overcome them by Your power.  Teach me the better portion that I might follow after the way You established in the beginning.

Lord, You know what it is to be tempted.  In those moments of weakness, the devil comes along and tempts our weakness.  He cannot make me do anything, for I alone am the one who gives into temptation.  Grant me grace so that I live into the new life You have placed before me.  Guide me into a way of life that is in harmony with You and the plans You have for me.  Lead me by Your grace to walk closely with You and not go astray.  Amen.

Genealogy of Jesus

“When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of [n]Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of [s]Heber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:23-38).

This is a long list and a whole book could be written about it.  Each has provided a witness, verified by the lineage within which each lived their life.  The world does not believe the witness You have given but rather believes a lie.  You have given the testimony, and we either believe the report You have given or else we believe what the world tells us.  This is one of the many struggles in this age of sin.

Lord, I have been told how many millions and millions of years the universe has been around.  I have been told about primordial man and his rising from another species.  Your report gives a lineage to a specific time and place.  I am confused about what to believe.  Help me to realize that You are the Creator and no word comes from You that is not true.  In the conflict of this age, help me to believe Your word of truth.

Lord Jesus, You came at the specific time chosen by the Heavenly Father.  You have come so that I who know next to nothing might come to You who knows everything.  I am not a witness of these things, but You are.  In the midst of the confusion of this age, open my eyes to see things as they are, not as I wish them to be.  Guide me into the everlasting life which You have given me through faith and by grace.  What is, is.  You are the author of all that is.  Lead me in You.  Amen.

“Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” (Luke 3:21-22).

All of this was for our sake.  Jesus knows who He is.  He, the Father and the Holy Spirit are One.  All of these things are for the sake of those who believe so that we may have the opportunity to walk the narrow way of Jesus, and learn to live according to the promises of God.  At the final judgement, Jesus will say to those who have come into His righteousness by grace, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Lord, You have made clear the path of righteousness.  It is following Jesus each step of the way.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to live not by my will, but by Thine.  You know where I falter and fail.  You know the temptations that come along.  Aid me in the way I need to live so that I may humbly follow where You lead me.  Guide me into Your goodness.

Lord Jesus, You submitted to the Father where You did not need to submit.  You who knew no sin repented for our sake.  You have shown us that we also must submit.  Whatever the situation, help me to learn how to submit to the Father’s will.  Teach me how to live a life of repentance.  Guide me in the upward call You have given me.  Lead me into Your righteousness.  Amen.

“So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people.  But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison” (Luke 3:18-20).

Sinners do not like to hear the truth.  If they are in a position to do something against the truth- teller, they will.  The goodness of the Lord is unchanging.  Wickedness is wickedness, and the Lord has come to set us free from wickedness; but some do not want to be set free.  This is the state of this world.  Sinners would rather go on sinning rather than repent and live in accordance with the will of their Creator.

Lord, I see this in myself.  I do not listen to what I do not want to hear.  You have spoken the truth from the beginning, but I listen to the lies rather than to accept the truth.  Guide me into my own heart so that I may be confronted at its depths and learn to repent and believe as You give me a clean heart.  Bring me through repentance to walk in the narrow way of righteousness You grant by grace.  Take me out of the prison of this world.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set us free.  Even if they were to lock me up in a room behind bars, in You I would still be free.  This world is mad with sin and does not want to hear the truth, but You have spoken the truth to me.  Lead me in the way of life that responds by repenting and believing in all You command.  Guide me in Your upward to call to hear and respond faithfully.  Amen.