We are continuing to examine how Christ lived and served the Father.

Jesus lived and served the Father by perfectly living what the inspired writers taught so that He could be our example (1 Cor. 11:1). The apostle Paul instructed the church at Rome, “do not be conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2). Jesus never once compromised God’s values to conform to the world or be accepted by it (John 1:11). The apostle John recorded, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

Jesus was different from the world, and He would not be swayed by the things in the world. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the fl esh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (John 2:16). Satan would try to knock Jesus off His course with trickery and cunning craftiness (Eph. 4:14) but no matter how hard he tried, he could not budge Jesus.

The devil began to tempt Jesus, knowing that He had been fasting for forty days and nights and was hungry (Matt. 4:1-2). However, Jesus refused to conform to the world and give in to the lust of the fl esh. The tempter tempted Him to doubt Himself and the Father by saying, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matt. 4:3). Jesus had no need to prove to Satan who He was. Satan knew fully well Jesus was the Son of God (James 2:19); therefore Jesus, confident in the Word of God, responded, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

The devil would not give up until he had tempted Jesus in every way. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). So, the devil took Jesus “into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give His angels charge over you,” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone”’ (Matt. 4:5-6). Once again, Jesus would not be conformed to the world; He would not compromise God’s values and sin by giving into the pride of life. He responded, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’ (Matt. 4:7). Jesus understood the truth that was in God’s Word (John 17:17) and had no need of having the Father prove Himself as if He would not keep His Word (Num. 23:19).

The devil was not finished tempting Jesus; he had not yet tempted Him with the lust of the eyes, and Satan would not give up until every avenue had been explored. “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’ (Matt. 4:8-9). Jesus still would not give in and conform to the world. He understood that true treasure was in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20) and that man’s life “does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15) because at one-point, Jesus did not even have a place to lay His head (Matt. 8:20).

After this last encounter with Jesus, the devil left (Matt. 4:11), thus proving that this is how to resist the devil so that he will flee (James 4:7). If you desire to not be conformed to the world, then you need to learn three little words: “It is written” and memorize the Scriptures. If you do this, you will be like Jesus, because you will be taking His mind and transforming your mind “by the renewing of your mind (to be like His), that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2; Phil 2:5).

Just something to consider!