TEMPTATION: Bodily cravings
Mathew 4:1-4
“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” This is normal for every man that is just concluding his fast, even for one day. After fasting, our stomach cries for food in such a way that we can’t ignore. It is expected that having been in the presence of God for that long, Jesus would be hungry and his body would crave for food. That natural bodily craving now became a source of temptation- a battle, as to how it should be satisfied.
The Devil offered Jesus a quick way to meet his need; ‘…turn this stones into bread.’ I imagine the Devil explaining further what he meant: “The Son of God should be able to do that, and if you are what you say you are, why deny yourself the pleasure?” If Jesus had listened to the Devil, he would have acted wrongly for two reasons; i. It would be wrong to obey the voice of Satan no matter how caring he may sound. He would have obeyed the lust of his flesh, the same trick used on Eve. ii. To turn stones into bread is not according to the will of God; stones are for building and not for eating!
Many times the raging lust within us would suggest we ‘use what we have to get what we want’ and many have fallen for it. Some of these desires are not sinful in themselves, but when we are drawn to satisfy them outside of God’s provisions, such thoughts become battles that our faith in God must overcome. The need usually is pressing and everything and everyone around is suggesting means that are not supplied by God.
When every muscle in our bodies is pulling us to go contrary to God’s method because of a need, may we learn from Christ. He found succour in the promise of God; His faith was anchored in the Word of God. He would not trade what is eternal for the temporal. His relationship with God was more important than his bodily craving.
Let us pray the prayer of the Apostle Paul “…that our love will keep on growing because of our knowledge and insight. That way we will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Jesus Christ will fill our lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Our lives will then bring glory and praise to God” AMEN Phil 1:9-11 GW.