Tentación

Spanish was my least favorite subject in high school. I have never been one to believe that intelligence should be graded on how well you can memorize something; so memorizing a bunch words in another language for vocabulary quizzes seemed silly to me. I despised studying for Spanish vocabulary quizzes so much that I got the grand idea one day in Spanish II to bring in my notes for a vocabulary quiz and sit them under my leg during the quiz (aka cheating). I was about halfway through when my quiz disappeared from my desk. In less than five seconds, my quiz became a paper ball...shaped like the grade I was about to receive. The teacher took me outside her trailer and asked me straight to my face, "Why did you do it?" I answered honestly and said, "I don't like Spanish and I didn't study." She then proceeded to lightly smack my cheek (I deserved it) and say: "Don't do it again!" Unlike Jesus, I couldn't resist the tentación (temptation).

Luke Chapter 4 tells us the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the desert for forty days. First, the devil tested Jesus' hunger by asking him to turn stone into bread so that Jesus could eat. Jesus responded, "Man does not live by bread alone." Second, the devil tested Jesus' faith and asked Jesus to worship him. Jesus responded, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." Lastly, the devil tested Jesus' abilities and asked Jesus to throw himself off a cliff to see how he would be rescued. Jesus answered, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

Jesus probably didn't enjoy being tested by Satan, but He never gave into the temptation. At the heart of Satan's temptation was a question: "Who is your God?" Jesus knew His God was His Father and not Satan. While a zero on a Spanish quiz didn't ruin my life, it did remind me of who saves it. Temptation is always lurking around the corner, but our amigo is always there to guide and protect us, even when we give in. Gracias Jesus!

-Jacob

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