Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”  Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”

Luke 4:1-4

After Jesus is baptized, the holy Spirit leads Jesus out into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Before Jesus can begin his public ministry, he must be tested privately. The first temptation is to turn stones into bread. It is the temptation to meet his legitimate need for food in an illegitimate way.

As human beings, we have needs. The question becomes do we trust God to meet our needs when resources seem scarce or will we break God’s moral law. The devil will tempt us to think that God cannot be trusted to come through for us to meet our needs. Jesus counteracts this temptation by quoting Deuteronomy. The quote reminds us that we have more than just physical needs. Our deepest need is for God and to stay in relationship with him.

Ask God for grace to trust him when resources are scarce. Acknowledge that God is your deepest need.