Matthew 4:1 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.’ ” 

Jesus is vulnerable at the time of his tempting. It’s interesting to note that, unlike God, Satan cannot MAKE anyone do anything. He can only temp or encourage people to violate the will and ways of God. In this case he strikes at the core of Jesus’ identity, “If you are the Son of God…”. Satan suggests that the Son of God would take matters into his own hands (turn stones to bread or through himself down). Instead Jesus affirms his commitment to placing himself in the hands of God.

Lord teach me to trust in you first and foremost, for I am a child of God by your grace. Amen.