“It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

“Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

“For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

These three simple rules guide Jesus. 

God’s Word keeps him focused on perfect love

In the face of pure evil. 

In our world, horror after horror is becoming normalized. 

It wears away at us. 

It interferes with God’s hopes and dreams. 

It distracts us from our our foundation.

Away with you Satan. How dare you?! 

There is no place for you here.

In my baptism it was promised

To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
reject the evil powers of this world.

I accept the freedom and power God gives me 

to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
in whatever forms they present themselves.

Away with you Satan.

You will not distract me.

You will not tempt me.

Three simple rules kept Jesus’ heart and soul grounded in God’s promises.

I put my trust in Jesus. 

Where he leads I will follow.

The path of love and grace and forgiveness. 

It’s harder than it sounds. . .

but I know the angels are waiting to offer

relief and comfort and renewal.

A devotional in dialogue with Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.