The image of God

Matthew 4:1-2

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

Still the tempter comes

on the days when we are hungry

Hungry for rest

Hungry for affirmation

On the days when we've lost sight

of the One in whose image we are created

Still the tempter comes

whispering lies

sowing doubt

stealing joy

obscuring the truth of our identity

as beloved children of God

in whom the divine spark of the Creator

was planted before birth.

Still the tempter comes

to push that truth away

and render us needy

setting us at odds with one another

out of touch with the wonder

that resides in our core

- that we are fearfully and wonderfully made

by the God whose image dwells in us

by the God whose love for us knows no bounds

by the God who invites us to claim our birthright

as beloved - created in the image of God.

Still the tempter comes...