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 4:2-3

 

Jesus goes out into the desert to fast for forty days and forty nights. This shows Jesus’ incredible strength and discipline that he could go without food for so long. Now, he is hungry so the devil tempts him to meet his legitimate need for food in an illegitimate way. 

 

Notice also how the devil starts the temptation, “If you are the Son of God.” The devil tempts Jesus to doubt his identity, to doubt his relationship with his heavenly Father. This is how temptation often comes to us. We are tempted to doubt our connection to God and whether we can really trust him to meet our needs. 

 

Pray for the grace today to place your trust in God to meet your needs.