Ezra 7 and 8 opens with Ezra from the line of Aaron coming to Jerusalem. He receives permission from King Artaxerxes to study the law of God there and also to bring offerings for the building of the temple. Ezra is to appoint judges who will make judgments according to the law of God. No one is allowed to charge any servants of the temple during the journey.

It is amazing that the king, as the two preceding, believes in God, or at least maintains a healthy respect for the God of Israel. They actively make it possible for the temple to be built. Others will help us in the faith even if they don’t themselves believe. We just need to be open to God working in unexpected ways.

In Luke 4 Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. He fasts for forty days. The devil tempts Jesus to turn a stone into bread…Jesus refuses. The devil tempts Jesus by saying that if Jesus worships him he will receive the world’s kingdoms…Jesus worships God alone. The devil tempts Jesus to do a miracle by having angels catch him when he jumps off a pinnacle. Jesus says don’t tempt God. The devil decides the time is not right to test Jesus yet.

Jesus goes to Nazareth, his hometown. He reads a scripture that basically says he is the Messiah. The people can’t believe a local boy could do something so great. They are amazed. Jesus realizes that he will have to take his message elsewhere.

Jesus goes to Capernaum where he meets a man with a demon. Jesus gets rid of the demon and the man is unharmed. Then Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law. People start to bring their sick to him for healing. When demons encounter Jesus they recognize that he is the Messiah. He tells them to be quiet. Jesus continues to preach God’s message to the people.

Jesus uses scriptures to fight temptation and criticism. One of the reasons that we read the Bible is to equip ourselves with knowledge of the Word of God. It is the only thing that is truly effective against the temptation to sin.