One of the best known stories in Jesus' life and in all of the Bible is the temptation in which Jesus Christ went through at the beginning of his ministry. After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, he was tired, hungry, and exhausted, in the middle of the desert, with the wild animals. Then, Satan came along to tempt him to thwart God's plan for salvation for all of humanity. But Jesus Christ stood strong, and after rejecting opportunities to feed himself, to test God's power, and to gain the whole world through idolatry worship, he won over the evil forces of Satan. He ultimately held a great victory over Satan and all evil forces, because he stuck with God, and not with anything else.

We Christians should also keep this powerful story in our minds, and whenever we are tempted to sin, we should always look back on Jesus' temptation, and how even through the hardest of circumstances, he remained true to God, just as we Christians are called to be true to Jesus Christ.

Take a look at Jesus' first temptation. It was the temptation of turning the stones to bread, so that Jesus Christ can feed himself. Keep in mind that Jesus Christ went 40 days and 40 nights without any food. At that time, he was starving for some food. Yet, remaining faithful in God, he rejected the food, and responded with the Truth, in that "Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." He replied with the Truth, and still had faith in the Father that he will give him the food needed at the proper time. So remember to pray to God, and have faith in him.

And the second temptation was hard also. The tempter took him up to the temple, and told him to throw himself off the temple, and even misused scripture to try to make Jesus sin. But Jesus Christ, knowing all too well Satan's trickery in this temptation, again responded with Faith, and scripture saying, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." Jesus Christ again remained faithful to God, and despite being tempted to see if God would indeed save him and prove he is the Messiah, he stood strong and prevailed against all evil again. He knew God was with him all the time, so he understood that there was no need to test if God is faithful. Jesus always had faith in God, so he again did not sin.

Then the final temptation came. This was considered by some the hardest of the three. In an instant, the enemy showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world from a high mountain. All the kingdoms were splendid and wonderful, in all their glory. Satan basically offered Jesus Christ the shortcut to his glory at the end of the age. If Jesus worshiped Satan, all the kingdoms of the world would instantly become his, and so would not have to suffer the Passion of betrayals, beatings, disownment, scourging, crucifixion, and death. Jesus however, knowing the Devil's lies and false promises once again, rebuked him, and again with true Faith in God, responded with scripture, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." Jesus prevailed over evil for the third time in a row, and in this powerful decision, chose God's path instead of a 'shortcut'. Again, Jesus Christ had faith in God, stuck true to his word, and chose God's path, instead of a fake one offered by the Devil. Jesus willingly did the Father's will, and rejected Satan's.

So therefore, whenever you are tempted, look back on what Jesus did. He had faith in God at the weakest point in his early ministry, and prevailed. So you also, have faith in God, that it would all work out somehow. For God is limitless; he can do anything at anytime, in anyplace in the universe, according to his will. Stay true to Jesus Christ, for if you ask him in prayer, I need help when I am tempted, he will help you prevail over Satan. Have faith in God, and choose God's will instead of a seemingly easy path.

Grace and Peace be with you all from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.