Daily Devotional – June 8, 2026
“Jesus answered, “It is written…” -Matthew 4:4
In the beginning days of Jesus’ ministry, he was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1) This takes place immediately following Jesus’ baptism by John. Jesus spends forty days and nights fasting. Like the slaves who wandered in the wilderness for forty years, preparing to enter the promised land, Jesus is preparing to begin his mission to bring the kingdom to earth, just as it is in heaven.
Near the end of his time in the wilderness, Matthew records that Jesus is “hungry.” (4:2) I can only imagine that he is also tired, lonely, and ready for a good bath. It is in this moment of exhaustion and hunger that Jesus faces three temptations. Matthew, Mark, and Luke record this encounter with “the tempter.” (4:3) The first temptation is food. Of course it was! Jesus had to be starving. The second temptation was comfort. Who wouldn’t be tempted with a little self-care after forty days in the wilderness? The third temptation was power. In each of these temptations, Jesus stood firm, even as his physical strength was depleted after his lengthy time in the wilderness.
This cosmic encounter is recorded as an example for our life of faith. With each temptation offered, Jesus countered by recounting scripture. It was the word of God that gave direction and focus in the moment. As Jesus faced each temptation, he remembered what had been written. The scripture offered the wisdom needed to see clearly and act appropriately.
Twice, Jesus recites scripture from Deuteronomy 6. This chapter commands the people of God to remember and observe God’s commandments. God tells the people, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” They are to be committed to memory. The teachings of God are to be meditated on so that they help shape how we view the world around us.
Struggles and temptations are something that each of us encounters in life. Like Jesus, our wisdom comes from the very words of God. The scriptures teach us, inspire us, challenge us, and correct us. We must work to commit them to memory so that they are at the front of our minds when we find ourselves in the wilderness of life. In God’s words, we find all that we need to live a life, holy and pleasing to God. If we spend intentional time in our Bibles, we will find that, when the challenges of life are before us, we will remember and find God’s leading.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
