Sunday, February 22, 2026

 

Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-7
Matthew 4:1-11

As I read these scriptures, I was compelled to compare the role and result of temptation in our lives to Christ’s life. Adam and Eve are so very human in their desire for more and the natural inclination to fall into temptation especially when someone is adept at presenting an argument for why that sinful action really is going to be just fine.  

Recently, Greg and I travelled to Hawaii and had the opportunity to go to two of my favourite quilting shops. Although I have a “library of fabric” in my home, I still decided I needed to pick up more because it’s hard to find Hawaiian fabrics in Lethbridge and I likely wasn’t getting back to the shops in a long time.  Everyone knows you just don’t want to run short of fabric!  
 Yielding to this temptation was made easier by purchasing fabric to make Greg a Hawaiian shirt, which is useful, even though he has several Hawaiian shirts.
 
While this purchase isn’t really life changing, the process of yielding to temptation sets a pattern that makes it easier for me to fall into other kinds of temptations. The expression, “It’s a slippery slope,” comes to mind when I think that once I yield to temptation in a small way, it’s easier to continue falling into temptation in other areas of my life. How blessed are we to have a God who understands our fall into temptation and offers us forgiveness when we repent. 

Let’s reflect on Christ’s temptation in Matthew after he had been led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, the devil arrives on the scene and mentions that Christ could turn the rocks to bread to relieve himself of his hunger. I am in awe of Christ resisting the temptation to create a lovely loaf of bread for himself, after all, his human nature must have been clamouring for food. This is where we hear the powerful scripture, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Standing on the pinnacle of the temple, the devil commands Christ to throw himself off for God will order his angels to save him.  Christ replies, Do not test the Lord your God. 

Finally, when the devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of world that would be his if he only bowed down and worshiped the devil. In our human frailty this would be a difficult temptation to resist… I can hear the whisper in Jesus’ ear, “It’s just a little devil worship in exchange for all the riches of the world.”  Jesus demands that Satan go away and states, Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.  

I am grateful to read and reflect upon Christ’s ability to unequivocally avoid temptation and that he that provides us with the strength and scripture to help us resist temptation.  Even more, I am grateful that there is a way back to God through our repentance and God’s forgiveness. Enjoy a blessed Lent and don’t be reluctant to ask forgiveness. Now I need to get busy with that Hawaiian shirt!
 
Blessings,
Carol Young
 

Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone  
Navigating Life from the Cross

 

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