Power And The Means Of God’s Grace

“If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” Matthew 4:3

Satan, in his sly and cunning ways, tries to tempt Jesus to prove a truth that he already knows. There is no doubt the devil recognized who Jesus was, but yet knowing the humanity of Jesus, he still tries to get him to use his power for his own purposes and not the purpose of glorifying his father.

Sir John Dalburg-Acton said “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This is so true and has been proven many times throughout history. The corrupt human heart cannot handle such power without it going to the head or in this case to the belly. The Devil always tempts us the most in our weakness and during this first temptation he uses Jesus’ hunger to tempt him to sin.

This is a big temptation for us all. To use or take advantage of the means of God’s grace for our on selfish purposes or pleasure. God’s grace is “His strength made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) and to take advantage of the means of grace is to focus more on our weakness than his strength. Whether we are tempted to lust, curse, steal, gossip, slander, etc, just as Jesus was tempted to “Turn stones into bread,” we are tempted to give in to these vices and “Turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.” (Jude 4) The lesson we learn from Jesus is that he relied on the strength of God’s word instead of the weakness of his appetite.

God’s grace empowers us. Grace is not a crutch for us to lean upon when he has given us the ability to walk upright. God has given us grace as a means to withstand the vile temptations of the devil and not turn the “Grace of God into lasciviousness” but allow God’s grace to transform us that “We might prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

The only way that will can overcome such temptations is by “Conforming to the image of Christ” (Romans 8:29) through prayer, fasting, and meditating on the word of God. Jesus did not need to show of his power to prove the devil wrong. He lived his life and carried himself in a way that proved the Gospel right. That is the same calling and challenge for us today!

Pastor Robby