Tempted and Tried

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

Marvelous Creator, source of all life

you bring to harvests the seeds once sown

you grow us with wisdom and strength

your power and love are awesome and complete.

We humans ache for power and control

thinking we can do better than our elders

believing we understand the power given

we often abuse the ones we say we love.

You went on a holy quest to understand

to be tempted and tried, teased with power

yet you found that true power is in sacrifice

true love is when we give ourselves away.

Loving God, put your power in our hearts

make us those always ready to sacrifice

help us know true power in giving up

and true love in offering ourselves for others. Amen.