在衪的传道事工中，耶稣行了很多奇妙的神迹，其中包括倍增食物使之喂饱几千人的故事。那么，祂为什么不做一些能帮助自己在旷野支撑下去的事情呢？耶稣为什么拒绝把石头变成食物？
当耶稣在我们中间生活时，祂的使命是在祂作的一切事上荣耀神，这些事肯定不包括在魔鬼的试探下屈服。耶稣拒绝为自己的益处来使用祂的能力或神的儿子的身份，祂反而在一切事上顺服，祂向我们显明如何按神的旨意而活。受到试探时，祂靠着与父神的亲密关系，又倚赖圣经的教导，来过顺服的生活。
在我们的生命中，或许有些时候我们会受到试探，去利用我们个人的有利条件来叫自己得益处；有时，这些事也甚至似乎是无可厚非的。然而，这样做若牵涉到令神蒙羞，这便是罪了 — 而我们自己也知道是不对的。
耶稣是我们抵挡试探的榜样。藉着浸泡在圣经里和聆听父神的话，我们便得到能力，远离自私和自毁的行为，我们也可以洞悉魔鬼用来扭曲真理的诡计；我们若跟随耶稣的脚步，便能够抵挡试探了。
主啊，我们时常都会受到试探。求祢以祢的灵充满我们，帮助我们住在祢的话里，好叫我们能以祢的真理装备自己。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
马太福音 4:1-11
1 当时，耶稣被圣灵引到旷野，受魔鬼的试探。
2 他禁食四十昼夜，后来就饿了。
3 那试探人的进前来，对他说：“你若是神的儿子，可以吩咐这些石头变成食物！”
4 耶稣却回答说：“经上记着说：‘人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。’”
5 魔鬼就带他进了圣城，叫他站在殿顶上，
6 对他说：“你若是神的儿子，可以跳下去！因为经上记着说：‘主要为你吩咐他的使者用手托着你，免得你的脚碰在石头上。’”
7 耶稣对他说：“经上又记着说：‘不可试探主你的神。’”
8 魔鬼又带他上了一座最高的山，将世上的万国与万国的荣华都指给他看，
9 对他说：“你若俯伏拜我，我就把这一切都赐给你。”
10 耶稣说：“撒旦，退去吧！因为经上记着说：‘当拜主你的神，单要侍奉他。’”
11 于是魔鬼离了耶稣，有天使来伺候他。
“If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” - Matthew 4:3
Jesus performed lots of amazing miracles during his ministry, including multiplying food for thousands of people. So why didn’t he do something that would have helped to sustain him in the desert? Why would Jesus have refused to turn the stones into bread?
Well, Jesus’ mission as he lived among us was to glorify God in all that he did. So that would not include giving in to a temptation from the devil. Jesus refused to be manipulated to use his power or his position as the Son of God to his own advantage. Instead, he was obedient in every way, showing us how to live by God’s will. And as he was tempted, he drew on his close relationship with the Father and leaned on the teachings of Scripture to live in obedience.
There may be times in our lives when we are tempted to use our personal advantage to serve our own interests, and sometimes it might even seem a harmless thing to do. But if doing so would involve dishonoring God, it would be a sin—and we know that.
Jesus demonstrates how to resist temptation. By dwelling in Scripture and listening to the Father’s voice, we can receive power to turn away from self-serving, self-destructive actions. We will be able to recognize the ways in which the devil twists the truth, and we will be able to resist temptation, following in Jesus’ steps.
Lord, so often we are tempted. Fill us with your Spirit and help us to dwell in your Word so that we may be equipped with your truth. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
