TEXT
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying 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 protect you,’and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- In what ways can spirituality be a form of idolatry?
- What does it mean to ‘serve only [God]?
- In what ways do we put God to the test?
- In what ways can the church equip the followers of Christ for when they contend with their own seasons in the wilderness?
IMAGE
SOUNDTRACK
- Save Us, by Helloween
- Secret Journey, by The Police
- Don’t Wanna Fight, by Alabama Shakes
- Colorshow, by The Avett Brothers
- The Wolves (Act I and II), by Bon Iver
- Dark End of the Street, by Cat Power
- Little Lies, by Fleetwood Mac
- Eyes to the Sky, by Joseph
- I Will Be Back One Day, by Lord Huron
- A Wolf at the Door, by Radiohead
HAIKU
Takes the stone,
remembers the words;
Carries on.
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