Devotions this week are based on Week 1 of Temptation to Triumph: Temptation (WATCH HERE)
Matthew 4:5–7 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
The second temptation is more subtle than the first. This time the devil takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and quotes Scripture. “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down, for it is written…” The enemy now sounds religious. He cites Psalm 91 and speaks of angels and protection. The temptation is wrapped in Bible language.
But the heart of it is dangerous. It is an invitation to force God’s hand. Jump. Make the Father prove His care. Create a public spectacle that will remove all doubt. The whisper beneath the words is familiar. “If God truly loves You, He will show it dramatically. If You really trust Him, You should take this leap.”
In Genesis, the serpent questioned God’s character. “You will not surely die.” The lie suggested that God’s warning was exaggerated and His motives suspect. Here again, the enemy manipulates truth to distort trust. The temptation is not to abandon faith, but to twist it. Instead of trusting quietly, Jesus is urged to demand visible proof.
This temptation plays out in our lives whenever we bargain with God. We say in our hearts, “If You fix this, then I will trust You. If You heal this relationship, then I will believe You are good.” We create tests, often silently, to measure whether God is faithful. Anxiety fuels the demand. Pride strengthens it. We want assurance on our terms.
Jesus responds with clarity. “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” He quotes from Deuteronomy, recalling Israel’s failure at Massah where they demanded water and questioned whether the Lord was among them. Testing God is not faith. It is unbelief dressed in spiritual language. It seeks control rather than connection.
Jesus refuses to manipulate the Father. He will not stage a miracle to secure applause or eliminate vulnerability. He entrusts Himself to the Father without spectacle. His obedience here preserves the purity of faith. True trust does not demand constant proof. It rests in what God has already revealed.
For us, this moment is both comfort and correction. It comforts us because Jesus resisted where we often falter. His obedience is part of the righteousness credited to us. He did not test the Father, even when the suggestion came clothed in Scripture. But it also corrects us. It invites us to examine how often our prayers are subtle negotiations rather than surrendered trust.
The cross itself will be the ultimate answer to the question of God’s faithfulness. There, love is displayed fully and finally. We do not need to create tests for God because He has already proven His heart in Christ.
This week, when doubt stirs and the urge for proof rises, remember that faith rests in God’s character, not in constant confirmation. The Father does not need to be tested. He has already shown Himself faithful.
Reflect: In what areas of your life are you tempted to demand proof of God’s care? How might resting in what God has already revealed free you from anxious bargaining?
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the ways I have tested You instead of trusting You. Quiet my anxious heart and deepen my confidence in Your character. Teach me to rest in Your promises without demanding signs. In Jesus’ name, Amen.